Montana Medical Marijuana Raids Shakes Industry to Core

On March 14, 2011 26 search warrants were executed on Montana Medical Marijuana facilities by local law enforcement in conjunction with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and other federal agencies. Subsequently, the Montana Medical Marijuana industry has taken a serious blow to the gut, and many patients and providers are left wondering what exactly happened to their blossoming industry.

Reportedly, 25% of Montana dispensaries and collectives have outright closed their doors, as owners simply walked away from often substantial investments in their businesses. Others, have gone silent, by not accepting new patients and only offering deliveries to current patients. Even others, are riding the storm, in hopes that its just a passing trend brought on by suspicions of illicit activities from a few businesses.

Medical Marijuana in Montana, had, like Colorado and California, seen a significant increase in patients and caregivers registered since 2009. Registered Medical Marijuana Montana patients were just under 4,000 in 2009 and swelled their ranks to just under 30,000 by the beginning of 2011.