Senate Bill 255, a measure that would have required adults to obtain a state-issued identification card before purchasing recreational marijuana, has been killed in the Montana Senate following the cancellation of a scheduled public hearing and vote.
The bill, sponsored by State Senator Greg Hertz (R), would have mandated that individuals 21 and older apply for and receive a marijuana identification card from the state Department of Revenue before being allowed to purchase recreational marijuana. The process would have involved submitting an application, paying a $200 fee, and providing proof of Montana residency along with personal information.
The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee had scheduled a public hearing on the bill for February 27, but the hearing and subsequent vote were canceled. The chair of the committee now says that there is no plans to reschedule the hearing, effectively ending the measure’s chances of advancing this session.
Montana voters approved recreational marijuana legalization in 2021, with retail sales beginning in January 2022. Currently, adults 21 and older can possess up to one ounce of marijuana, with recreational purchases taxed at 20% and medical purchases taxed at 4%.
