Marijuana reform advocates are raising concern after Montana GOP senator filed legislation that would require adult-use cannabis consumers to register and pay an annual registration and participation fee of $200 in order to participate legally in a program approved by voters in 2020.
Sen. Greg Hertz (R), introduced Senate Bill 255 last week. This legislation would establish an adult recreational cannabis registration system similar to what exists for medical cannabis registries across many states – except with significantly higher annual fees and registration requirements for adults who choose this route of purchase.
Adults would need to pay the $200 registration fee each year in order to obtain cannabis cards from the Cannabis Control Division of their state, while participants in cannabis programs will have this obligation as per this proposal.
At the time of application for their card, adults will have a 60-day window where they could access marijuana from licensed retailers; but if they fail to pay their fee at that point in time, their application for temporary marijuana identification could be cancelled by the division and removed from circulation.
“This legislation represents an attempt by some Montana lawmakers to circumvent voter will and criminalize cannabis use for many Montanans who legalized cannabis under Amendment 64,” according to Karen O’Keefe of Marijuana Policy Project’s (MPP) state policy division in an interview with MEDCAN24 on Thursday.
“No other state requires adult-use cannabis consumers to register with a state registry; therefore, Montana voters made their voices known when passing Initiative I-190,” according to Ms. LeFevere. Re-criminalizing cannabis for anyone not paying $200 each year as registration with the state would violate Montanan voters who made their voices clear by passing I-190.
Text of the bill indicates that marijuana cardholders shall always carry with them and keep accessible their marijuana identification card and valid photo identification on demand from law enforcement officers, justice of the peace, or city or municipal judges.”
This legislation would amend state code to replace language providing legal possession and use of limited amounts of cannabis by adults 21 years or older with “marijuana cardholders and registered cardholders.”
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MPP is encouraging Montanans to reach out to their representatives and voice their opposition against this proposal, which it claims “subjects law-abiding cannabis consumers to surveillance and government overreach”.
Montanans remain at risk under federal law as cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law and gun owners who consume it could face imprisonment of up to 10 years, MPP noted. Floridians Support Marijuana Legalization But It Is Too Low A Priority According To New Poll From Opposition Group
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