Montana State Senate Passes Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Use

Growing medical cannabis at a farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA. Photo by Cresco Labs, video capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The Montana State Senate in the western United States passed a bill on the 23rd (local time) to legalize recreational marijuana and impose an excise tax, according to the Associated Press.

The bill passed the Senate with 34 votes in favor and 16 against, and will now be sent to the House of Representatives for further discussion on the amended content.

Once the legislation is finalized, the tax rate on recreational marijuana in Montana is expected to be 20% of the sales amount. According to the AP, this tax revenue will be allocated to drug addiction programs, wildlife protection, police training, and more. Tax revenue from marijuana sales in Montana is estimated to exceed $48 million annually (approximately 53.6 billion KRW) by 2025.

In the United States, the number of states legalizing recreational marijuana is increasing for reasons such as job creation and securing tax revenue. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill on the 12th allowing the sale of recreational marijuana to adults. According to local media, a total of 17 states have legalized recreational marijuana in the U.S. so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.