Montana voters approve CI-118 and I-190 to legalize marijuana adults 21 and older!
Last update: November 5, 2020
Montanans have passed two complementary ballot initiatives to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older. Constitutional Initiative 118, which amends the Montana Constitution to set the legal age for marijuana at 21, passed 58% to 42%. The statutory measure, Initiative 190, which outlines a comprehensive system of legalization overseen by the Montana Department of Revenue, passed by a similar margin, 57% to 43%.
Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project and one of the leaders of the New Approach Montana ballot campaign, said, “This is a great day for Montana. These initiatives will expand access to medical marijuana, generate millions in new tax revenue, and end the injustice of arresting Montanans for personal marijuana possession. Montana joins a growing number of states that have replaced a failed policy of prohibition with a common sense approach to marijuana."
Complementary legalization measures are on the 2020 ballot!
Earlier this year, New Approach Montana, a statewide campaign working to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana, submitted two complementary 2020 ballot initiatives to the state for review. The first is a statutory initiative that would legalize marijuana in Montana for adults aged 21 and over and establish a regulatory framework for cultivation and sales. The second is a constitutional amendment that would allow the legal minimum age for marijuana consumption to be 21.
On June 19, the campaign submitted over 130,000 signatures from counties across the state in order to qualify two complementary marijuana legalization initiatives for the November 2020 ballot. Despite the severe impact of COVID-19, the campaign was able to reach its goals in time for the signature submission deadline.
On August 13, the Montana Secretary of State announced the campaign submitted enough signatures to qualify both initiatives for the ballot.
The campaign submitted over 52,000 signatures in support of I-190, a statutory initiative that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana in Montana, and over 80,000 signatures in support of CI-118, a constitutional initiative that would set the legal minimum age for purchasing, consuming, or possessing marijuana at 21.
The adult-use legalization initiative would allocate marijuana tax revenue to land, water, and wildlife conservation programs, veteran services, substance abuse treatment, long-term health care, and local governments. Read a summary of the initiatives here.