Local leaders discuss marijuana’s future for November ballot | News

BILLINGS – Even with new state laws on legal recreational marijuana, the future of cannabis is still in the air in Billings and Yellowstone Counties.

Local officials are working on the voting language so voters can decide whether to sell recreational marijuana locally.

However, some pharmacy employees say they are already at a disadvantage and believe that more cannabis prescription is bad for business.

Working at a medical marijuana dispensary near Lockwood, Paul Hogan knows the city of Billings and Yellowstone Counties could let voters decide whether to sell recreational cannabis locally.

He knows that one decision could affect his shop’s profits; So he wants to apply for a leisure license.

He argues that federal laws are already penalizing the cannabis industry.

“I would like more help with deregulation and less taxes, not double taxes and more regulation. There are normal operating expenses that any other company can deduct before paying their taxes, which we don’t get.” Privileges, ”he said.

Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, so Hogan says he doesn’t get back most of his business expenses.

“Employees of the pharmacy, along with my signs for the pharmacy, the showcases, everything, are not tax deductible by the federal government. So that’s all out of pocket,” said Hogan.

When House Bill 701 became law, local governments were given the power to introduce a local option tax on top of the 20% sales tax mentioned in the bill. Hogan argues that lawmakers haven’t seen all of the expenses pharmacies have.

“So, with huge profit margins, we step in. We can tax them at 20 or 30%, but that’s not a true picture of the actual numbers,” Hogan said.

So the November elections will be a big one for Hogan. At the Billings City Council working session last night, they discussed marijuana issues that might be on the ballot.

“Our understanding is that the county will be asking a question about marijuana companies as a whole, which would include all seven business categories,” said Gina Dahl, prosecutor for Billings.

But it’s not clear whether voters will opt for medical marijuana as part of this.

It could stand out from the recovery and nothing would change. However, experts advise that Billings shouldn’t do the same when Yellowstone County asks voters if they want recreational cannabis sales.

“If the county only asks one question and is supposed to ban all business, the city doesn’t have to put a question on the ballot,” said Dahl.

And if voters decide to allow recreational pots to be sold …

“If the county asks a question and voters keep all the companies, the city must issue an ordinance regulating all business categories and then decide to ask the voters the question in the next election,” said Dahl.

Yellowstone County will hold a public hearing on August 3rd to decide which recreational marijuana question to put on the ballot.