The Wild West of Weed in Valley County

In Valley County, it is no longer the case of smoke it if you can find it, but smoke it if you want it.

As of Jan. 1, Montanans age 21 and older can legally purchase and use marijuana for recreational purposes. In Valley County, legal marijuana is available for sale at CannaOrganics, 54315 Highway 2, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Rod and Debra Lambert, co-owners, first opened the shop as a dispensary for medical marijuana patients in Feb. 2019. Now, they can legally sell marijuana for recreational use.

The residents of Montana legalized recreational marijuana in the November 2020 election, with the passage of the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, I-190. The Initiative allows adults over the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of cannabis.

Both medical and recreational marijuana may only be consumed on private property away from public view, and it is illegal to consume marijuana or be under its influence while driving, flying an aircraft or boating.

The Lamberts have been planning for recreational sales for some time.

"We are still preparing," Rod told The Courier during a visit to his shop Friday. "We are doing upgrades to the building. We have more glass display counters coming. We ordered early, and they will be here on Monday or Tuesday, just in time for the rush. It is perfect timing."

Because the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, their first day of sales for recreational users was delayed from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3.

"Our predictions are we are going to get hit pretty good," Rod said. "We are trying to prepare for it, but we don't know what to expect. We have a bunch of vape stuff we are putting out too so they can vape cartridges. We are not in the business to sell glass, so we keep it cheap and inexpensive..."

"...so [users] have access," Deb added.

"Otherwise they are traveling to billings trying to find glass," Rod continued. "We have been preparing some of our edibles, our gummies, and stocking up. We have pushed our grow for a while, trying to get our products stored up."

Wade Miller, the leading bud tender at the shop, said he is ready to help new customers prepare for using marijuana. A bud tender is a person behind the counter who sells marijuana products to customers.

"It is going to be different, and I think we are ready for it," Miller said. "It will be a continuous flow, I think, and it will be good. Anyone [21+] that is willing to come up and take a look are welcome to come in."

Education about marijuana for new users is essential, Rod said.

"There is still a stigma over it. People say, 'its bad.'" That opinion continues "unless you look into the healing benefits of it - spiritually, psychologically and physically. You've got to go with the flow because it is there. They say there is no medical evidence [supporting health benefits], there is a lot. Personally, from what we have seen from our patients over the years, those people tell you it is working."

When newcomers ask for guidance, "we can give them a general idea, depending on the strain we are working with, but everybody takes it different," Rod said. "It is a personal thing. We try to help them along, if they have never used before, and tell them kind of what to expect. Then, they come back with feedback for us. We have had a few people who want to try this, and have never done it before."

Moderation, Rod said, is key.

"Our gummies can be up to 10 milligrams of THC. We have some at 4 milligrams. We make a really good gummy, with no taste of cannabis at all. We recommend for people, if they have never tried it, cut it into quarters. Wait a couple of hours and see what happens. You are the one who is going to have to judge your tolerance. Don't buy a 10 pack of gummies and go out and eat the whole thing and hope for the best. We recommend they start on the low size. Don't try to smoke a whole bowl of flower, take one or two hits, let is set in and see how it works for you."

And, with many strains available, customers can learn which is best for them, Rod said.

"We have a lot of pre-rolls, so if people want to try a strain, it gives them the ability to do it without spending a lot. Your sativas are going to give you more of an uplifting [high], it is a good daytime option that will keep you up and moving if you want to do things. Indicas are for night time and help you to sleep good. People just need to figure out what they want to use it for and learn the strains. All of the strains have different qualities."

All Business

Rod, a long time advocate for legal marijuana usage, started selling marijuana to patients legally back in 2009. The laws since then have "really tightened up," he said. "It used to be where you could have it in your console. When I was first a provider, we used to run around with a sack full in the truck. A patient would call us up and we would meet them somewhere. They called it the 'Wild West.' It was a little more rogue. It has changed a lot. The state has totally invested in the program. Now it is all about business. The Department of Revenue took over the medical and recreation. Medical will be taxed at 4%, and recreational will be taxed at 20%. Then, the county still has an option of putting on an extra 3%."

Commissioners are not moving in that direction at present, as the cost of providing for a special election likely would be more expensive than tax revenues, they told The Courier last week. The city of Glasgow currently is reviewing if any new laws need to be considered by the council.

As for any local tax, that "actually has to go to the people of the county for a vote. If the county wants that tax, they can hold a special election or put on the ballot during a general election year."

Such tax would benefit local communities, Rod said.

Organic Pot

While Rod has grown his own pot sold in his shop for some time, he is now working with another local grower to ensure he has enough product to meet the demands of his new customers.

"They do a nice organic grow, too," he said. "They grow it different then I do. I am old style. I learned it off Ed Rosenthal and George Cervantes."

Rosenthal is a California horticulturist, author, publisher and cannabis grower and advocate for the legalization of marijuana use. Cervantes, is a world-renowned cannabis expert who has been cultivating marijuana since the early 1980s and published his first book, "Indoor Marijuana Horticulture," in 1983.

"I like the old style," Rod said. "But, the new stuff, they do a good job. They will be in soil. There is a little difference on the nutrients they use. I hang my plants for drying and curing. A lot of the younger generation trim it wet and throw it on racks and dry it that way. It is all about timing for them. Hurry up and get it out. If you take your time and cure it right, you preserve your terpenes."

Terpenes are the primary constituents of essential oils of cannabis, and are responsible for the aroma characteristics.

"There is big learning curve," Rod said. "When we were younger, we didn't tell anybody we had a rogue grow. You did not share that information, and didn't have all these resources available. You certainly didn't have any online college courses you could take for growing weed. A lot has changed."

"I think it is a good change," Deb added.

Rod invites those eligible to come in and see the shop for themselves.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "Our bud tenders are really knowledgeable on all the cannabis products. They can answer you questions about how much to use. People need to be open minded. It makes a difference."