marijuana

A year into Montana’s launch of legal recreational marijuana sales, the state Legislature is looking at a series of bills that would revise the rules for the marijuana industry.

Total Arizona marijuana sales in 2022 mirrored the total from 2021, the first year of the legal adult use market, but the paths that each year reached $1.4 billion in sales were strikingly different.

A bill in the Montana House of Representatives would make driving high on THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, a DUI – no matter what kind of THC or how it was produced.

As proposed, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation would use the money to bump up the amounts local districts are getting from their mills and coal severance tax.

The group did note some progress in improving arrest protections, increased adoption of adult-use cannabis and low-THC strains from more conservative states, and growing reciprocity programs.

Supporters said it would address some local communities’ concerns about the industry, but business owners called it an unnecessary imposition.

Bryan St. Germain writes, "Your words 'marijuana illness or sickness' is ridiculous. Just a scare tactic, like 'schizophrenic symptoms.' It is so much safer than alcohol."

Despite the overall reduction, total cannabis sales passed the $980 million mark the first eight months of 2022 and will likely approach, if not eclipse, 2021’s $1.4 billion before the year ends.