House Bill No. introduced by B. Mercer aims to revise laws related to local government and marijuana dispensaries in Montana. The bill amends Section 16-12-301 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to establish a framework for local jurisdictions to regulate marijuana businesses based on voter approval. Specifically, it stipulates that marijuana businesses cannot operate in counties where the majority of voters opposed Initiative Measure No. 190 in the November 2020 election unless they receive local approval for their business category. The bill also outlines the process for local governments to hold elections regarding the approval of various marijuana business categories and includes provisions for municipalities with populations over 5,000 to separate votes from those in the rest of the county.

Additionally, the bill introduces new language regarding the ballot form for elections that seek to prohibit certain marijuana businesses. It specifies that the ballot questions must clearly indicate whether voters are in favor of or against banning marijuana cultivation and manufacturing within their jurisdiction. The bill also allows local governments that previously approved marijuana businesses to later vote to prohibit their operations, with such a decision taking effect 90 days after the election. Overall, the bill seeks to provide local governments with more authority to regulate marijuana businesses while ensuring that voter input is a key component of the decision-making process.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 16-12-301
HB0688_1(1): 16-12-301
HB0688_1(2): 16-12-301
HB0688_1(3): 16-12-301
HB0688_1: 16-12-301