A state legislative panel has reached tentative consensus with the Montana Department of Revenue on a series of recreational marijuana regulations that lawmakers informally objected to in a meeting last week, resolving—at least for now—the latest in a series of hiccups that have cropped up as the state nears the launch of its adult-use cannabis market. Lawmakers on the Economic Affairs Interim Committee, which has some oversight authority over administrative rulemaking in the state, worked with the Department of Revenue during the weekend to clear up differences in interpretation of the state’s recreational marijuana statute, which directs the department to draft rules to implement portions of Montana’s burgeoning cannabis program. The committee ended its brief session on Monday with a unanimous vote to lift the blanket objection to the rulemaking process it voiced last week after the department presented several revisions to the rules. “Lots of work went into this. I think we’ve found a pretty good balance for the people of Montana,” said Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, who serves on the interim committee. Adult-use marijuana markets in the state officially open on January 1.
Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 12/14/2021 08:39:00