Unfortunately, Montana treats marijuana as a dangerous hallucinogenic substance (Schedule 1), which means recreational use of it can get you fined and even land you behind bars.
Looking at a concrete example, getting caught with a 60 grams of marijuana could get you 3 years of prison time as well as $1,000 in fines (given you’re a first-time offender). While this is a misdemeanor, any more than 60 grams of marijuana is considered a felony, for which you may be required to serve up to 5 years in prison and shell out up to $50,000.
Furthermore, any kind of selling, delivery, or cultivation of weed in Montana is a felony as well. The good news, however, is that if you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, seizures, constant pain and so forth, you may be eligible for a medical marijuana license. However, it’s quite difficult to obtain, and even if you do, certain limitations still apply.
One noteworthy benefit of medical marijuana license holders in Montana is that they are legally allowed to grow their own plants. If they simply can’t be bothered doing it on their own, it’s possible to acquire it from one of the state-approved dispensaries. Of course, you will be required to present your license prior to them willing to do any kind of business with you.
Obtaining a medical marijuana license in Montana mostly boils down to the following: getting your physician’s written statement, filling out the necessary forms, paying any applicable fees, and waiting for the committee’s final approval. In any case, please keep in mind that only the residents of Montana can get one, so if you’re a tourist or someone who just happens to be stopping by, you’re out of luck.
Logically, lighting the green in public is a sure way to get yourself in trouble. But what about those who can smoke it legally? This issue is a bit more complex, because the law regarding this is written in an unclear way. No matter what the case may be, no one is allowed to smoke it near schools, parks, or anywhere kids are located, so much is clear. But when it comes to other areas in Montana, smoking medical marijuana should be fine, unless you’re bothering other people. Whenever in doubt, just follow this simple rule: smoke it only where people gather to smoke the classic tobacco cigarettes.
All drivers in Montana should know that driving under the influence is punishable by law. Whether it be alcohol, marijuana, or any other drug with a direct affect on the driver’s perception, the same rule applies. It’s best to avoid it altogether, but in concrete numbers, the THC levels in your blood must always remain below 5ng/ml. This is true for operating any type of vehicle.
A police officer is within thier rights to administer a blood and/or breath test whenever a driver is suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs. If the driver’s THC blood levels turn out to be higher than what is permissible, the drivers license of that person will be suspended for at least 6 months, and even first-time offenders can expect to spend at least a day in prison.