Cannabis is now legal in Montana

As of January 1, 2021, two bills—Initiative 190 and Initiative 118—have become law in Montana, legalizing cannabis for adults. People 21 and older can now legally possess up to 1 ounce (28g) of cannabis and grow up to 4 mature cannabis plants for personal use.

Other Provisions of the New Law

The law contains separate provisions, including the establishment of a licensing system for cannabis producers and retailers. It will be implemented later this year. Voters adopted both initiatives with nearly 60% of the votes.

A provision of Initiative 190 allows individuals who have already been convicted of cannabis-related offenses to ask a judge to remove those convictions from their criminal records. The measure stipulates that courts must presume that a person is eligible for this expungement unless the county prosecutor proves otherwise—for example, if the charge is related to a violent or sexual offense or to a felony charge for the sale or distribution of drugs.

Carly Wolf, national policy coordinator for NORML, a pro-legalization organization, said:

«Today is a great day for the people of Montana, who will no longer face arrest, prosecution, or a criminal record for personal use or possession of cannabis. The enactment of adult-use legalization in Montana is further proof that this policy change enjoys broad support across all geographic and political spectrums.»

However, Montanans should not expect to be able to purchase cannabis immediately at a retail outlet unless they have a medical card. The laws authorizing recreational sales will not take effect until October 2021, and current dispensaries are still limited to serving only registered patients.