Cannabis Dispensary Prohibition

The proposed amendments to Title 5 and Title 8, along with a resolution supporting the Title 5 amendments, will allow the City to use the regulatory tools at our disposal to address the spike in youth cannabis use while providing additional time to develop a more comprehensive approach.

Code Changes

There are two ordinances and one resolution in consideration regarding dispensary business licenses.

1. The proposed amendment to Title 5 enacts a prohibition on new business licenses for retail adult use or medical cannabis dispensaries pending review of the regulations applicable to such operations as a part of the City’s Uniform Development Code Project.
2. The proposed amendment to Title 8 is intended to impose additional regulations concerning the sale and transaction of cannabis products in the City, including imposing a new criminal sanction of those that sell or give cannabis products to individuals under 21 years of age.
3. The resolution initiates a moratorium on accepting new business license applications for cannabis dispensary operations and calling for a review of the public health concerns regarding the large number of cannabis dispensary operations within the City.

Background and Support

A special presentation on Youth Cannabis Use occurred on May 9, 2024 discussing youth cannabis use and policies communities are enacting to keep youth safe.

Facts

• According to the state’s Cannabis Control Division, Missoula County is home to 59 cannabis dispensaries and has one of the highest numbers of dispensaries per capita in the nation.
• Even though the legal age for marijuana consumption is 21, youth marijuana usage has spiked since statewide legalization began in 2020.
• In 2021, 24.5% of Missoula County high schoolers used marijuana on a regular basis, compared to 20% in 2019, which indicates a 22% increase in just two years, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
• Between 2016 to 2021, emergency department encounters and hospitalizations for cannabis-related disorders increased 32% for teens ages 15 to 19 in Missoula County, according to the Montana Hospital Association and the Center for Population Health Research at the University of Montana.