Recreational marijuana back on ballot in Yellowstone County

Initiative will appear on June 7 primary

Six weeks after Billings residents voted to ban recreational marijuana sales within city limits, Yellowstone County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to give county voters the same chance.

Chariman Don Jones, Denis Pitman, and John Ostlund, who voted against a similar resolution in August, all agreed to put the issue on the June 7 primary ballot. The move comes just 18 days before recreational marijuana sales become legal in Montana after House Bill 701 was signed into law earlier this year. Montana voters approved recreational sales on a state level in the November 2020 election.

Proponents of a re-vote at Tuesday's Yellowstone County public meeting, including Montana Rep. Bill Mercer (R-Billings), again pointed to increased crime statistics.

"It is a remarkable thing to see how many pre-sentence reports indicated that the defendant started in a life of a crime based upon the use of marijuana," said Mercer, who served as an attorney for 15 years.

The biggest emotional appeal came from Tanya Ludwig, who’s son Eric died in 2020 at the hands of a driver under the influence.

Opponents of the re-vote addressed a statewide question about how tax money would spent. The original I-190 initiative promised half of the allocation to environment conservation projects, and sizable chunks to causes like veteran services. Instead, language in HB 701 states 90 percent will go to the state’s general fund, which is likely to sway some voters.

"People are talking about this bait and switch," said resident Jason Smith.

"It's still up to legislation what to do with the money."

"I’d like to ask you to consider waiting one year before addressing this issue," resident Susan Stanley added.

"See what comes in for tax dollars and consider what you’d do with the 3% local option.

"Mr. Ostlund said you don’t get to re-vote when you don’t get the outcome you like," resident Zach Schopp said. "What’s changed?”

“After reviewing what happened in the city, with the overwhelming overturn of recreational sales, I believe the voters have been better educated and intend to vote for this today," he said.

Recreational sales will be legal starting January 1, and will remain legal until at least the June 7 date, pending language in the ballot if the law is overturned. By adding this initiative to June's primary ballot, the ballot now is not allowed to be all-mail, according to the commissioners' in-house counsel.

The vote does not affect medical marijuana businesses.