Cannabis Zoning for Dispensaries and Indoor Cultivation in Unzoned Areas of Missoula County
At their May 25 public meeting, the Missoula County commissioners allowed the withdrawal of the proposal for cannabis zoning in unzoned areas of the county following the governor’s signing of House Bill 128. HB 128 extends the date for new growing operations to open to July 1, 2025. Staff plan to bring this proposal back closer to that date. ,The proposal would have required a 500-foot separation between dispensaries and energy conservation measures for indoor cannabis cultivation, which are the same regulations that already apply within the zoned areas of the County.
Missoula County Planning, Development and Sustainability was proposing zoning regulations pertaining to cannabis cultivation and dispensaries for unzoned areas of Missoula County.
The proposal would have required a 500-foot separation between dispensaries and energy conservation measures for indoor cannabis cultivation reflecting Missoula County’s goal of 100% clean electricity for the Missoula urban area by 2030. These regulations already apply to zoned areas (shown in red on the map) in Missoula County. The City of Missoula also has its own cannabis-related zoning within city limits.
See the “Important Links” section for links to more information on the already established regulations for zoned portions of the County and read the proposed regulations in the “documents” section.
The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board held a public hearing on this proposal on April 18, 2023, and voted to approve it.
Let us know your thoughts.
At their May 25 public meeting, the Missoula County commissioners allowed the withdrawal of the proposal for cannabis zoning in unzoned areas of the county following the governor’s signing of House Bill 128. HB 128 extends the date for new growing operations to open to July 1, 2025. Staff plan to bring this proposal back closer to that date. ,The proposal would have required a 500-foot separation between dispensaries and energy conservation measures for indoor cannabis cultivation, which are the same regulations that already apply within the zoned areas of the County.
Missoula County commissioners at their May 25, 2023, public meeting allowed for the withdrawal of the proposal for cannabis zoning in unzoned areas of Missoula County following the passage of House Bill 128, which pushes the date back on when new grow operations can be stood up from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025. This subject will be brought up again when that date comes closer in 2025.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-258-4946 Email jdixon@missoulacounty.us
Cannabis culture requires a great deal of water. The county should also address water conservation or insist that this culture not be allowed to use fresh water.
I strongly support energy conservation measures for indoor cannabis cultivation.
We at Climate Smart Missoula write in support of these zoning regulations. Energy conservation measures for businesses and industries that require extensive lighting are crucial if we are to meet our energy goals for Missoula County. Such measures have reasonably quick payback times and will serve to benefit everyone.
Thank you for these forward-thinking regulations and for working hard to help businesses achieve their goals.
Amy Cilimburg, executive director, Climate Smart Missoula
As one of the oldest cultivators of cannabis in the state I have a lot to say about this subject. I have e been growing out in Frenchtown for the past 15 years. I maintain a good relationship with my neighbors. In fact most of them don't even know that I have a farm. My farm is unzoned and think that it is completely unfair that you want to zone me simply because I grow cannabis. If you are going to zone me, you should have to zone every small business operating in unzoned areas.
100% renewable energy is not even remotely possible in my business because of the energy required to run my facility. It creates an unfair financial burden on my company and would literally put me out of business as well as 7 good paying jobs. People with families. And that's just my company. With all of the other companies that would go down, we are talking about 50 to 100 jobs lost in a bad economy. If you want to regulate a business you must first take the time to learn about how those businesses operate along with the requirements to operate before you start making rules that are not possible. Feel free to reach out to me with questions or if you want to come out and I can show you why your proposal will not work.