Tens of millions of dollars have been invested in conservation initiatives around Montana in the four years since the Montana Legislature established the framework for the legalization of recreational marijuana.
However, a group of conservation-focused organizations expressed their worries on Wednesday that the state Legislature and the governor’s office may attempt to cut back on or reallocate the historic investment.
Setting up a single funding source to handle so many of these disparate needs was a genuinely revolutionary accomplishment as Montana Wild’s state policy director, Noah Marion, described. As Montanans, we have grown to depend on this investment, and it is imperative that we keep strengthening the foundation that was established in 2021 and defended in 2023. And now, in 2025, we’re trying to defend it again.
A bill to establish minimum penalties for marijuana possession is introduced by an Idaho legislator.
The tax revenue framework allocated 20% to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for Habitat Montana, a program that funds maintenance and permanent easements, when the state Legislature passed legislation pertaining to the legal use of marijuana during the 2021 session. Furthermore, 4% is allotted to nongame animals, state parks, trails, and recreational facilities.
According to fiscal predictions from the last biennium, by fiscal year 2027, funding for Habitat Montana would amount to $9.3 million, while the three other conservation funds would receive $1.86 million.
Although none of the measures have been developed yet, four of the more than 4,000 bill requests that are currently before the 69th Legislature are linked to changing how marijuana tax income is distributed.
Nonetheless, a new plan to give the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation $1 million over two years to finance water storage facilities throughout the state was included in Governor Greg Gianforte’s budget. Legislation that redistributes some marijuana tax income is required in order for the idea to proceed.
There will be a proposal to lower two of the smaller 4% conservation funds to 3%, but it was unclear which accounts would be cut, according to a budget analyst from the governor’s office who spoke at a meeting in December. The legislation’s specifics are still being finalized.
Marion stated that there is simply no reason to cut or stop funding these vital initiatives. With record surpluses, Montana is once again in a very good financial situation.
Environmental organizations oppose the allocation of Montana’s marijuana tax income.
Representatives from the Montana State Parks Foundation, Montana Trails Coalition, Montana Wildlife Federation, and Wild Montana made it apparent that they would not accept any cutbacks in funding during the press conference held at Capital Sports in Helena.
We Montanans are quite skilled at this. Chris Marchion, a board member of the Montana Wildlife Federation, stated that when we see something worthwhile that we want to do, we find a way to make it happen. We must invest our available funds in areas that will yield the highest returns for our future public and wildlife.
The largest obstacle facing his department, according to Chris Smith, a former deputy director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and board vice president of the Montana State Parks Foundation, is securing sufficient money for the state parks program.
According to Smith, it has consistently received insufficient funding despite the potential benefits it may offer Montanans. Since 2020, state parks have benefited greatly from marijuana money, which will only grow in significance going forward.
With the recent purchase of a piece of property close to Judith Landing, Montana now boasts 56 state parks with significantly higher visitor numbers.
The conservation organizations also noted that Montanans clearly want to fund conservation initiatives, citing a bill to increase marijuana revenue allocations that passed last session with resounding support before Governor Gianforte vetoed it.
In the end, Montanans want to uphold this continuous dedication to public lands, state parks, trails, and animal conservation, and Montana can afford it, Marion stated. People in Montana are becoming increasingly concerned about how the state is changing and expanding, and that we must safeguard these investments in order to preserve the Montana we all love and the reason we all reside here.
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