MEDICAL MARIJUANA IMPACTS ECONOMY

House Bill 161, also known as the medical marijuana repeal bill, has
only been debated by the state House of Representatives, but Missoula
cannabis clinics have concerns about possible economic effects if
medical marijuana is repealed.

Dave Stephens, owner of Better Life Montana, said that if the repeal
is passed, he predicts the loss of thousands of jobs, lost city
revenue from business taxes and many more people relying on food stamps.

"It's a bad idea all the way around," Stephens said.

Stephens owns and runs Better Life on his own and said he had hoped to
hire employees in the next year. However, if House Bill 161 is passed,
Stephens said, "We'd be out of business."

He is hopeful that the bill will not be approved by the state
Legislature and isn't actively anticipating having to close down his
business.

"I feel like the governor will veto it if it comes down to it," he
said.

Jeffrey Mitchell, a former real estate agent who runs High Country
Caregivers with one business partner, said there would be great
economic loss if the repeal is passed. "You'll see a commercial real
estate crash," he said.

In addition, every warehouse involved in medical marijuana would lose
its renters. Mitchell estimated there to be one or two warehouses for
every medical cannabis business.

If the Legislature approves the repeal of medical marijuana, Mitchell
has a plan. "We'll move to a more marijuana-friendly state," he said.

Alaska, Oregon and California are places Mitchell listed as possible
relocation spots.

Deni Llovet, a nurse practitioner at River City Family Health, said
that because the clinic isn't solely a medical cannabis center, it
wouldn't be put out of business by the repeal. However, current and
potential customers would be lost.

"It would remove a significant tool for people in pain," Llovet
said.

Llovet is optimistic that the bill will not be passed.

"Personally, I don't foresee this being repealed," she
said.

A hearing was scheduled Tuesday with the Appropriations Committee to
discuss the possible economic outcome of repealing medical marijuana.