Ordinance to pause new Missoula marijuana dispensary licenses introduced

MISSOULA — An ordinance to pause new business licenses for recreational marijuana dispensaries was introduced during Monday evening’s Missoula City Council meeting. Backers say the measure aims to reduce kid’s access to marijuana.

Over the last year, Missoula Public Health and members of the city council have been discussing the alarming number of young people visiting the emergency room, going into rehab, and being poisoned from cannibals use.

There are currently there are 51 dispensaries in the city of Missoula, with eight pending applications.

Missoula City Council member Gwen Jones, who put the ordinance forward, says that the pause on business licenses offers the city council a chance to rework the zones where dispensaries are located.

A lot of information out there and studies that have been done, the more dispensaries in a community, the more youth use,” Jones said. “So, having less dispensaries can still provide that service in Missoula. But having it a little bit less visible — less in people’s face — probably is going to be better in the long run for a better environment.”

A Missoula City Council hearing on the proposed ordinance has been scheduled for July 8, 2024.