In a significant development for Montana’s medical marijuana industry, a district court judge has granted a 60-day preliminary injunction, halting the State of Montana from imposing increased fees on businesses operating multiple marijuana dispensaries. This decision comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by three Montana marijuana businesses challenging the new fee structure introduced in the final days of the 2023 legislative session.

Under the amended version of House Bill 903, each additional dispensary a company owns would incur a cumulative increase in licensing fees, significantly raising operational costs. The plaintiffs argued that these increased fees far exceed the costs of regulating the state’s marijuana industry and would force them to close several locations, lay off workers, and limit access to medical marijuana for patients.

The injunction, granted by Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan, temporarily reinstates the previous fee structure, offering relief to the businesses and their employees. This ruling also opens a window for potential settlement negotiations over the next two months.

For more details on this developing story, visit Marijuana Moment.