Montana dispensary discusses business expansion since recreational marijuana use has been legal

Bozeman, Montana – In Montana, recreational marijuana sales started in January 2022.

We contacted Elliot Lindsey, the proprietor of the Grizzly Pine dispensary, to inquire about sales trends following the legalization of marijuana and the opening of additional dispensaries in the neighborhood.

About six years ago, Lindsey founded Grizzly Pine because he believed that folks in need of marijuana deserved a better option.

“I was a cardholder back when it was [only] medical,” says Lindsey, “I felt like there was a lot that could be improved upon in the retail setting.”

He claims that after marijuana use for recreational purposes became legal, sales really took off.

“It was pretty instantaneous growth right at the beginning of last year, and it’s kind of stayed that way,” says Lindsey.

According to Lindsey, recreational sales have eclipsed medical sales, and he’s even seeing fewer medical cards.

“One of the things that we did definitely notice is over time, even though there’s a tax saving for medical patients, a lot of people seem to not be renewing their cards,” says Lindsey.

In Montana, 29 of the state’s 56 counties permit the recreational use of adult-use marijuana. We questioned Bozeman police about unlawful sales and use in light of rising marijuana taxation.

“For people who are under the age of 21, we do run into that for those folks who are in possession of marijuana,” says Patrol Captain Joe Swanson, “It would be difficult for us to be able to track it in terms of if we stopped somebody, they had under an ounce. As long as they’re 21, we don’t ask where they purchased it from.”

I found roughly 20 dispensaries in Bozeman when I searched online. I questioned Lindsey about the implications of the escalating rivalry, and he responded that business is still booming.

“There’s so many [dispensaries] that have opened so quickly. We’re still definitely doing a lot better than we were a year ago,” says Lindsey.

Trial Attorney Eric N. Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut for the District of Montana prosecuted the case.