Montana State says recreational marijuana license won't be available for a year

State says recreational marijuana license won't be available for a year

If you thought Montana's approval of recreational marijuana means you can start legally selling pot right away, the state says not so fast.

Voters approved a pair of initiatives on Election Day, a step which most have seen as opening the door to legal and possible legislative challenges which must be resolved first.

And now the Montana Department of Revenue is saying even absent any legal roadblocks, there's a "lot of work to do" before the state will make licenses available to legally sell non-medical marijuana.

Director Gene Walborn said the state is starting the process of setting up that system, but he doesn't expect the first licenses will be issued until October 1st next year.

And even then, only currently licensed providers of medical marijuana will be able to apply for those licenses in the first 12-months they're available.

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