Montana Senate Advances Proposal to Redirect Marijuana Tax Revenue
A proposal to redirect tens of millions of dollars in recreational marijuana taxes has advanced in the Montana Senate. Senate Bill 307, sponsored by Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, would reallocate the funds from wildlife habitat, state parks, and youth suicide prevention programming to law enforcement and substance use disorder treatment programs.
The bill aims to address the negative impacts of marijuana use, including substance use disorder and law enforcement challenges. McGillvray argued that the current allocation of marijuana taxes is not addressing the harms caused by the legalization and use of marijuana. He suggested that property taxes should fund treatment and crisis centers for individuals struggling with psychosis or mental health issues related to marijuana use.
Proponents of the bill, including Ben Cort, emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to addressing substance use issues, including treatment, prevention, and enforcement. Opponents, however, argued that the bill goes against the wishes of Montana voters who legalized recreational marijuana in 2020 and specified that one-quarter of the taxes collected would support conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives.
During floor debate, McGillvray countered that allocating revenue by citizen initiative is prohibited by Montana’s Constitution. Democratic Senators Sara Novak and Pat Flowers pushed back, arguing that the state’s budget surplus and existing allocations for conservation efforts should not be used as a reason to reallocate funds.
The Senate’s vote was largely along party lines, with all Democrats opposing the bill and most Republicans supporting it. The proposal will now move to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, where it will face further consideration. If it passes, it will go up for at least one more vote in the Senate before moving to the House.
