Montana medical cannabis registrations skyrocketing

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The number of registered medical cannabis patients in Montana has continued its steady upward pace this year, with the number of program enrollees more than doubling between December and July.

As of last month, 17,819 patients had registered with the state to purchase MMJ, up from just over 8,000 at the end of 2016.

The trend equates to about 1,300 new medical marijuana cardholders a month, the Billings Gazette reported.

Montana’s MMJ program has been on the upswing since voters approved a ballot measure last November to formally legalize dispensaries and other cannabis businesses, and the state has been working to enact industry regulations.

Although the resurgence in patient numbers should be encouraging to Montana cannabis businesses, the current numbers are still far below the roughly 30,000 patients who were signed up in 2011 – during the state industry’s heyday – before a legislative crackdown by state lawmakers.