BILLINGS — Recreational marijuana appears here to stay in Yellowstone County.
Early numbers show Yellowstone voters voting against overturning approval of recreational marijuana sales, 58 percent to 42 percent. Language on the June primary ballot asked voters to vote for overturning approval of already legalized sales the state of Montana passed in the November 2020 general election by a large 57% majority, or to vote against overturning approval, which would keep recreational sales legal.
“I hope that we are done beating a dead horse,” said Jason Smith, treasurer for Better for Montana. “I think the people have spoken. I hope from now on the politicians will listen.”
During the 2021 legislative session, majority Republicans passed a bill giving local governments the right to hold a second election to determine whether to allow recreational sales.
In August 2021, a resolution to put the issue back to the Yellowstone County voters failed after County Commissioner John Ostlund voted against it.
“I don’t think you get to re-vote every time you don’t like the outcome of an election,” Ostlund said.
However, Ostlund had a change of heart in December after Billings city voters chose to outlaw recreational storefronts in a November 2021 election. 18 days later, Ostlund and his fellow commissioners Denis Pitman and Don Jones all voted to put the issue on to the June 2022 primary ballot. [Read more at KTVQ.com]
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