Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 12. MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION

Part 3. Local Government and Law Enforcement Authority

Local Government Excise Tax-- Election Required -- Procedure -- Notice

16-12-311. Local government excise tax-- election required -- procedure -- notice. (1) A county that has permitted an adult-use dispensary or medical marijuana dispensary to operate within its borders pursuant to 16-12-301 or a county in which the majority of voters voted to approve Initiative Measure No. 190 in the November 3, 2020, general election, may not impose or, except as provided in this section, amend or repeal a local-option marijuana excise tax unless the local-option marijuana excise tax question has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question.

(2) The local-option marijuana excise tax question may be presented to the qualified electors of a county by a petition of the electors as provided in 7-5-131, 7-5-132, 7-5-134, 7-5-135, and 7-5-137 or by a resolution of the governing body of the county.

(3) The petition or resolution referring the taxing question must state:

(a) the rate of the tax, which may not exceed 3% of the retail value of all marijuana and marijuana products sold at an adult-use dispensary or medical marijuana dispensary;

(b) the date when the tax becomes effective, which may not be earlier than 90 days after the election; and

(c) the purposes that may be funded by the tax revenue.

(4) On receipt of an adequate petition, the county's governing body shall hold an election in accordance with Title 13, chapter 1, part 5.

(5) Notice of the election must be given as provided in 13-1-108 and include the information listed in subsection (3) of this section.

(6) The question of the imposition of a local-option marijuana excise tax may not be placed before the qualified electors more than once in any fiscal year.

History: En. Sec. 96, Ch. 576, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 712, L. 2023.