Marijuana Business Factbook 2019

Marijuana Business Factbook 2019 Chapter 2 | State-By-State: Legal Overview, Market Data and Outlook 114 © Copyright 2020, Marijuana Business Daily , a division of Anne Holland Ventures Inc. You may NOT copy this Factbook, or make public the data and facts contained herein, in part or in whole. For more copies or editorial permissions, contact CustomerService@MJBizDaily.com or call (720) 213-5992, ext. 1. SUMMARY What to watch in 2020 The state’s medical marijuana industry continued growing throughout 2019, with patient counts up 16% over 2018. That’s notable because per-capita patient counts in Montana are already among the highest in the nation, with more than 3% of the population registered as patients. It hasn’t been all roses for legacy operators, however, and new industry regulations are permissive enough on the cultivation side that some are worried about the potential for overproduction and wholesale price drops. In this sense, the state looks to be ripe for new industry development. The biggest question will likely be which local governments decide to welcome cannabis companies and how many try to regulate them out of their jurisdictions. Currently, two competing political campaigns are underway in the state to get recreational marijuana ballot measures before voters in 2020. The most recent poll found 51% of respondents in favor of rec legalization, while just 37% opposed it. Marijuana Business Opportunity Rank for 2020 B As formal regulations are enacted and with no declared limit on provider licensing, those looking to open or expand businesses in the state’s MMJ market may have ample opportunities. Smaller players have unique access to the market in Montana, where application and licensing fees are minimal. Entrepreneurs may pursue profits through many channels (e.g., cultivation, processing, dispensing, etc.). Newly established regulations—such as product-testing requirements and seed-to-sale tracking— oversupply concerns and strong competition might present barriers. MONTANA Medical continued