What does a new bill mean for marijuana dispensaries for medical purposes in Montana



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INVOICING – When Montana's medical marijuana program began in 2004, it unfortunately experienced some difficulties.

With the passage of Senate Bill 333 in 2017 and the current Bill 265, many changes have been made to the program, which deal with different elements. The most notable change is that patients are no longer tied to a single health care provider while setting a limit of five ounces on the amount of marijuana patients can buy each month.

"It's a little wild west," said Ryder Gerberding, owner of Medicine Creek Caregivers. "Everyone announced where they wanted, doing what they wanted, without any supervision."

"The state will put in place a system of all providers enrolled in its monitoring system and you can choose the one of your choice, so as to give patients the freedom, if they move, to go elsewhere," he said. said Jean Lucas, CFO of Montana Advanced Caregivers.

For patients who are now allowed to shop in multiple dispensaries, what does this mean for competition in the sector?

This will allow providers to focus much more on their niche. For example, if a supplier is excellent at producing edible products, but their flowers do not grow very well, it will allow them to focus more on developing edible products.

In 2018, total sales of the marijuana program for medical purposes reached $ 45 million; the tax being reduced to 4% to finance the program, where exactly do the excess revenues go?

"By the time the bill is written, anything that exceeds expectations, will go into alternative pain management resources, so you know, help fight this opioid epidemic that is rife everywhere. Just educate people that there is not just cannabis. There are many other holistic methods to elevate yourself, "Gerberding said.

Restrictions on advertising, which prohibit the industry from advertising on any medium, including electronic advertising, have not changed, which suppliers do not necessarily agree.

"Liquor stores are allowed to advertise, tobacco companies and liquor companies are allowed to advertise. So, how is cannabis different? Gerberding said.

"I find it strange that our company is one of the few we do not have the right to do. Any other company can advertise, "Lucas said.

"Now, the only thing we can do as suppliers is to create a website. It's not allowed to have pricing, availability, a detail of what we do – just the business we are, "said Gerberding.

With changing laws and the continued growth of the sector, what do suppliers expect for the future and what do they think of change?

"One great thing I want to see is that the providers are working more together and that their situation is much less severe," Gerberding said.

"I think it's a positive move," Lucas said. "Any law that is going to change will have disadvantages, but overall, I think we're going in the right direction in Montana to help our patients."

Story by Marcus Boyer, MTN News

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