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Lewis and Clark County, Montana, Medical Marijuana Excise Tax Measure (June 2022)

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Lewis and Clark County Medical Marijuana Excise Tax Measure

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Election date

June 7, 2022

Topic
Local marijuana and Local marijuana tax
Status

ApprovedApproved

Type
Referral


Lewis and Clark County Medical Marijuana Excise Tax Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Lewis and Clark County on June 7, 2022. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported imposing a 3% local-option excise tax on medical marijuana and related products.

A "no" vote opposed imposing a 3% local-option excise tax on medical marijuana and related products.


A simple majority was required for the approval of the property tax measure. The tax took effect on October 1, 2022.

Election results

Lewis and Clark County Medical Marijuana Excise Tax Measure

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

9,750 52.79%
No 8,720 47.21%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Medical Marijuana Excise Tax Measure was as follows:

Shall Lewis and Clark County impose a 3% local-option marijuana excise tax on the retail value of all medical marijuana and all medical marijuana products sold within Lewis and Clark County?

In accordance with Montana law the revenue of local-option marijuana excise tax may be used for any activity, undertaking, or administrative service that the County is authorized by law to perform, including costs resulting from the imposition of the tax or due to administrative burdens imposed on the County as a result of licensing or regulatory requirements.

[ ] FOR a 3% (three percent) Marijuana LocalOption Excise Tax for all medical marijuana and medical marijuana products.

[ ] AGAINST a 3% (three percent) Marijuana Local-Option Excise Tax for all medical marijuana and medical marijuana products. 

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.


Background

Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)

See also: Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)

At the 2020 election, Montana voters approved I-190 by a vote of 56.90% to 43.10%. The initiative legalized the possession and use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21, imposed a 20% tax on marijuana sales, required the Department of Revenue to develop rules to regulate marijuana businesses, and allowed for the resentencing or expungement of marijuana-related crimes.

On March 29, 2021, the Montana House of Representatives introduced House Bill 701 (HB 701). It was passed on April 8 by a vote of 65-33 with two absent. It was amended and passed by the state Senate on April 23 by a vote of 34-16. On April 27, the state House passed the bill as amended by the senate in a vote of 67-32. On May 18, 2021, Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed the bill.[1]

The law imposes a 20% tax on recreational marijuana sales. The revenue would be allocated as follows:

  • $6 million per year for addiction treatment services;
  • 20% of revenues to conservation;
  • 4% of revenues, up to $650,000 each, to state parks, trails, recreational facilities, and wildlife protection;
  • $200,000 to veterans services and improving veterans’ cemeteries;
  • $300,000 to the purchase of drug detection dogs;
  • $150,000 for police training; and
  • remaining amount to the state’s general fund.

HB 701 also authorized counties to impose a local-option excise tax of up to 3% on medical and recreational marijuana sales. The revenue from the tax would be distributed as follows:[2]

  • 50% to the authorizing county;
  • 45% to municipalities according to share of county population; and
  • 5% to the Montana Department of Revenue for administration costs.


Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Montana

The Lewis and Clark County Commission voted to refer the measure to the ballot on February 8, 2022.[2]

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Montana

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Montana.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Montana State Legislature, "House Bill 701," accessed April 28, 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lewis and Clark County, "Resolution 2022-5," accessed May 11, 2022
  3. Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-1-106. Time of opening and closing of polls for all elections -- exceptions," accessed June 10, 2025
  4. Montana law says an individual does not gain residency if they relocate for "temporary work, training, or an educational program, without the intention of making that county or the state the individual's permanent home at the conclusion of the temporary work, training, or educational program." See HB 413 from 2025 for more information.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Montana Secretary of State, “Montana Voter Registration Application,” accessed June 10, 2025
  6. Montana Motor Vehicle Division, “Additional Considerations when Getting Your License or ID,” accessed June 10, 2025
  7. Montana Legislative Services, "SB 490: Revise election laws regarding late registration," accessed June 9, 2025
  8. Montana Legislative Services, "HB 413: Revise election laws regarding residency," accessed June 9, 2025
  9. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  10. Montana Code Annotated 2023, "§ 13-13-114. Voter Identification And Marking Precinct Register Book Before Elector Votes -- Provisional Voting," accessed June 9, 2025
  11. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.