by Travis Mateer
The supposed answer behind our idiotic Council inserting themselves into the Cannabis market is THE CHILDREN! That’s right, Gwen Jones is worried about kids doing the weed. and the fact that Missoula has more dispensaries, per capita, than any other community in America, is probably exacerbating Jones’ desire to do this:
The council advanced a resolution Wednesday to halt all new dispensary licenses within the city limits after July 8. That policy, if approved by council on June 24, would place a 180-day temporary ban on new cannabis shops.
The other two polices would create a more permanent, two-year moratorium on new dispensary licenses and establish local fines for selling or giving marijuana to a minor.
Both of those laws are set for a final debate by council on July 8. Ward 3 Councilor Gwen Jones sponsored the potential policies and said the restrictions are meant to limit youth cannabis use.
I wonder if Gwen Jones pays attention to other states that have legalized Cannabis because, if she did, she might discover that over-saturated markets have a way of stabilizing WITHOUT government intervention. Just look at what Colorado is now dealing with:
Colorado’s cannabis market is in free-fall, going from peak revenues of $2.2 billion in 2020, to $1.5 billion just three years later. The drop has had a substantial impact on the state’s economy – with cannabis tax revenues decreasing more than 30% over the past two years to just $282 million last fiscal year, Politico reports.
The causes are manifold, and include an oversaturated local market, regulatory burdens, and increasing competition from nearby states such as New Mexico and Arizona – two out of 24 states where weed is now legal, which may have been attracting consumers that would have previously made a border run to Colorado.
While Colorado deals with LESS taxable weed money, Montana legislators continue to display their broad dysfunction by failing to override a veto to redistribute weed money to roads. From the link (emphasis mine):
A bill designed to redistribute marijuana tax revenue towards county road repairs and conservation projects is dead after lawmakers voted not to override a veto by the governor.
According to a poll of legislators released by the Montana Secretary of State’s office on Friday, 62 lawmakers voted to overturn a veto of Senate Bill 442 by Gov. Greg Gianforte, falling short of the 100 needed to overturn the veto. Sixteen lawmakers voted against the veto override, and 72 lawmakers did not vote.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen reported that several legislators returned their ballot packets indicating a refusal to participate in the process, some with letters explaining their reasoning. Others refused to sign their ballot packets or did not return them at all.
All members of the Flathead Valley’s legislative delegation declined to vote except for Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, who voted against the veto override, and Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, who voted for it.
“I applaud the Montana Legislature for today rejecting radical judicial overreach, as the court sought to meddle in the legislative process. Legislators also made clear that we should continue using marijuana revenue to fund addiction and recovery services, law enforcement, veterans, wildlife habitat, and state parks and trails, just as Montanans intended when they voted for recreational marijuana at the ballot box in 2020,” Gianforte said in a statement.
While markets collapse in Colorado and legislators fail to act in Montana, Gwen Jones sees an opportunity to do something for the children in Missoula. This is great because when you do the weed, the consequences can be catastrophic.
I’m going to let Gwen Jones in on a little secret: when societies breakdown, substances that provide a temporary escape become EVEN MORE popular. For example, how many casinos selling alcohol do you see around town doing facility upgrades? I see plenty, like the new casino on Southwest Higgins. So why isn’t Gwen Jones suggesting a moratorium on businesses that facilitate gambling while selling booze?
While some people might want the stupid from Council to stop, I’d like to ENCOURAGE Council members, like Gwen Jones, to continue doing stupid shit while taking hilarious measures to protect themselves from the anger they are generating from the public.
If our Council is feeling lots of stress and anxiety, maybe a little THC would help? I suggest Gwen Jones consult some Cannabis entrepreneurs, like Nick Checota or Ellie Boldman, to see what kind of strain could help chill them out.
If you appreciate my local reporting, please consider donating to Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF). I’ve put myself in the local crosshairs in order to expose what’s REALLY going on in Zoom Town, and the reaction has been intense.
Thanks for reading!
Didn’t you notice council had used children as reason to clear unhoused from parks. Using moral panics to motivate the public is as old as time. They can’t even come up with original ideas.
I did notice, and I know the tactic isn’t new, but it’s worth pointing that reality will come to anyone who thinks this economy has opportunity outside the things people seek when things fall apart
The police have killed more people this year than kids have been admitted to the ER and that is the problem? She needs to smoke a j and chill the fuck out. At least the kids can get fentanyl on every corner without an ID
Can I get an AMEN!
I think the more important question to answer is why does City Council have the power to decide whether any business, morally upright or not, can operate. Licensing requirements do nothing to provide “protection” to citizens who may or may not want it. They only create another layer of bureaucracy which businesses have to overcome and comply with if they want to survive and prosper.
No one should have to buy permission from The Law in order to open or operate a business. Every business should be subject to only one ironclad rule: satisfy your customers or go out of business. This is the only fair way to determine who remains and who goes belly-up. When meddlesome busybodies get involved, the tables are tilted toward or against certain operators, making it impossible for everyone to get a fair shake.
It is hard enough to start and operate a successful business under free-market authority, i.e., stiff competition, without having to run the gauntlet of government intervention.
Laissez faire!
And another AMEN!