Anti-marijuana groups in Montana have moved to dismiss their own lawsuit challenging a voter-approved legalization measure after the governor signed separate reform legislation into law. SAFE Montana and Wrong For Montana say their lawsuit is no longer necessary since Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed HB 701 last month. They filed a motion to dismiss the case in the Montana First Judicial Court late last week. “While we hoped to see this process proceed successfully, we instead will champion the work done in the legislature to pass HB 701 into law,” Steve Zabawa, executive director of SAFE Montana, said in a statement. “We are proud to say that as a result of HB 701, Montana will move forward with some of the tightest regulations on the marijuana industry in the country.” The lawsuit attempted to make the case that voter-approved Initiative 190 was unconstitutional because it appropriated some cannabis tax revenue, allegedly violating a portion of the state Constitution that prohibits such activity from being included in a citizen initiative.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 06/14/2021 11:43:00