Just before a law paused new marijuana businesses in Montana, a business owner gained conditional approval for a Great Falls hub. On Tuesday, the Great Falls Planning Advisory Board/Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Flower, a Missoula County-based company, to establish a cannabis cultivation facility in a westside industrial zone. This decision marks a significant moment as Montana navigates the transition from medical to recreational marijuana use amidst legislative and public debate.
Flower owner Bobby Long plans to open a retail dispensary and cultivation facility at 748 Crescent Circle, just off Sixth Street Southwest. This location is zoned for cannabis retail, but cultivation required Tuesday’s hearing for approval. Having operated cannabis businesses in Lolo and Missoula for over a decade, Long aims to make Great Falls an operation hub, stating, “I’m not here to tap a market and walk away. I’m here to plant something that lasts.”
The retail dispensary is set to open this fall, with Long already licensed to do so. He might be among the last to receive a license before a new state law freezes new locations starting July 1. This freeze will impact the cultivation facility’s timeline. Long purchased the building in December, while the bill was in circulation, and aims to prepare the facility by the freeze’s end in 2027.
The zoning commission’s approval was crucial, as it may become Great Falls’ first such facility. Planning board member Julie Essex opposed the permit, citing marijuana’s illegal federal status. Quoting the supremacy clause from the U.S. Constitution, Essex asserted, “I am obligated to follow local, state, and federal laws except where there is a conflict with federal law.” Despite this, federal classification hasn’t stopped cannabis legalization across numerous states, with 39 states permitting medical use and 24 legalizing recreational use.
Concerns from local bodies included potential odor from the grow operation. Long assured that no odor would escape the facility, thanks to air filters and a closed-loop HVAC system. He emphasized that odor control aligns with pest prevention, stating, “It’s in my operational interest to seal out the smell because it seals in the environment.” Permit conditions include a ban on outdoor cultivation.
Neighborhood Council No. 2 noted the dense presence of marijuana businesses due to zoning patterns but decided “not to oppose” Long’s permit. Planning board members were not interested in broader legal debates about federal supremacy, with board chair Tory Mills stating, “We’re here to discuss a CUP for the applicant.” The board approved the permit 4-1, though it still requires city commission approval.
The new state licensure legislation, SB 27, aims to “freeze the footprint” of marijuana businesses, affecting around 1,000 locations statewide. This freeze will start on July 1 and last until June 30, 2027. Montana’s cannabis regulations have evolved significantly, with medical use approved in 2004 and recreational use legalized in 2020.
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