Current through the 2023 Regular Session
Section 16-12-107 - Legal protections - allowable amounts(1) A cultivator may have the canopy allotment allowed by the department.(2) Except as provided in 16-12-108, a person licensed under this chapter may not be arrested, prosecuted, penalized, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil fine or disciplinary action by a professional licensing board or the department of labor and industry, solely because the person cultivates, manufactures, possesses, or transports marijuana in the amounts and manner allowed under this chapter.(3) A person may not be arrested or prosecuted for possession, conspiracy as provided in 45-4-102, or any other offense solely for being in the presence or vicinity of the use of marijuana and marijuana products as permitted under this chapter.(4) Except as provided in 16-12-210, possession of or application for a license does not solely constitute probable cause to search a person or the property of a person or otherwise subject a person or property of a person to inspection by any governmental agency, including a law enforcement agency.(5) The provisions of this section relating to protection from arrest or prosecution do not apply to a person unless the person has obtained a license prior to an arrest or the filing of a criminal charge. It is not a defense to a criminal charge that a person obtains a license after an arrest or the filing of a criminal charge.(6) A cultivator or manufacturer is presumed to be engaged in the use of marijuana as allowed by this chapter if the person is in possession of an amount of marijuana that does not exceed the amount permitted under this chapter.Amended by Laws 2021, Ch. 576,Sec. 42, eff. 1/1/2022.En. Sec. 14, I.M. No. 190, approved Nov. 3, 2020 (effective date changed from 10/1/2021 to 1/1/2022 by Laws 2021, Ch. 576,Sec. 107, eff. 5/18/2021).Contingent voidness. Section 115 of Laws 2021, Ch. 576 provides: "Contingent voidness. If the Montana supreme court determines that Initiative Measure No. 190, approved November 3, 2020, other than the portions relating to revenue distribution, is in violation of the Montana constitution and the constitutional infirmity invalidates the entire initiative, then both Initiative Measure No. 190 and [this act] [Ch. 576] are void."