Stoners’ Atlas: 710 Edition

Because your dude loves you and loves Montana’s cannabis industry, I’ve taken it upon myself to create this celebration field guide to provide as comprehensive of an aid as possible for ringing in 710 in Montana in 2023. I reached out via phone, email as well as social media to as many dispensaries around the state as possible to compile the information found in this guide.

This field guide has been compiled in the spirit of positivity, collaboration and community. The guide is from the perspective of a life-long, proud stoner and from the vantage point of someone who has witnessed first-hand the good that both medical and recreational cannabis can have on people’s lives. Both my wife and I have been medical card holders for several years, and cannabis has undoubtedly had a positive impact on our quality of life both together and as individuals.

In addition to medical uses, cannabis can also be a lot of fun when enjoyed properly and in good company. I’ve met a ton of lifelong friends in joint rotations. I hope that perhaps this Atlas can guide you to a similar destination. Cannabis has always had a remarkable way of bringing people together and making them happier. It’s in that spirit that I embarked on the creation of this guide.

Montana is fortunate to have developed a vibrant cannabis market in such a short amount of time. Medical cannabis became legal in Montana in 2004, which means Montanans have had some form of legal access to cannabis for just shy of two decades. Recreational cannabis began in 2022, and in the first year, Montana sold over $300 million worth of cannabis between the medical and adult-use programs. The industry also generated over $45 million in tax revenue for the state in year one. You can find an in depth look at Montana’s first year of adult-use cannabis sales here.

In addition to the tax revenue. There’s also an estimated 4,000 hardworking Montanans currently making their living in the cannabis industry. Keep this in mind the next time someone tries to hassle or belittle you about blazing up. Just tell them you’re supporting the local economy.

We’re just over halfway through the second year of adult-use sales, and Montana’s young cannabis industry seems healthy. Every month of 2023 thus far has exceeded the corresponding month for 2022. While the numbers don’t show a tremendous amount of growth, they do show growth of around 4.3%. If these numbers continue to hold, Montana’s 2023 sales numbers will likely end up somewhere in the neighborhood of $315 million vs 2022’s total of $303 million. Much of that will depend on the tourist season and by many metrics, tourism numbers are down this summer compared to the record-breaking numbers we saw during the pandemic. 

Here’s some numbers on where we stand in 2023 vs 2022.

One interesting statistic that is spelled out in the data is a significantly different ratio of medical vs adult-use sales. In 2022, medical sales accounted for just over 30% while in 2023, medical accounts for around 21% of overall sales. It will be interesting over time to see if this trend continues. This disparity may also contribute to the overall sales growth as products are typically more expensive when purchased recreationally. 

With the legislature’s recent extension of the moratorium on the issuance of new licenses, the market will look extremely similar until 2025. With no new licensees entering the market, existing licensees have the next two years to carve out market share and solidify their foothold. While it remains to be seen what will happen when the moratorium is set to expire, it’s anyone’s guess what may happen. Recent elections have skewed to the conservative side of the aisle, and I wouldn’t expect to see a rolling out of the red carpet for the industry should that trend continue. 

While Montanans have voted on several occasions to support the cannabis industry, work still continues to throw roadblocks in the way of the industry. As recently as March, a repeal bill that would’ve dismantled the legal market made it all the way to the Senate floor. Fortunately, public commentary and support for the industry was able to see that bill fail, but these efforts to undermine the industry and the will of the people should be expected to continue. 

Cannabis has always had its detractors and naysayers, and it’s doubtful that this will disappear anytime in the near future. It’s this existential threat to the industry that makes coming together as an industry a no-brainer at this juncture. In short, there is strength in numbers, and presenting a united front as an industry is in the best interest for all. Together we stand. Divided we fall. 

As a student of history, I believe that there are few things more quintessentially Montanan than agriculture and pioneering. I can’t think of an industry other than ranching or farming that sits more exactly at those crossroads than the cannabis industry. Our young cannabis industry exemplifies so much of what the Montana spirit is in my opinion. Cannabis entrepreneurs persevere against the constant resistance by the government and naysayers to do what they do. They’re constantly carving a path into uncharted territory just by existing. It’s my pleasure to work with so many and support their efforts and their undeniable sense of passion and purpose.

There is no shortage of great dispensaries or cannabis in Big Sky Country, and it is with great pride and pleasure that this guide gets to showcase them and what they love to do. While I may certainly have a few favorite strains, products and shops of my own, that’s not what the Stoners’ Atlas is about. This is an unabridged, comprehensive and (most importantly) impartial manual for all of what Big High Country has to offer on 710. Special thanks to all of the shops who were gracious enough to take time to speak to me on the phone, send an email or reach out on social media to participate in this year’s guide.

Please enjoy the best 710 celebration guide I could muster this year. It is my sincere hope that this Stoners’ Atlas will serve you well. Thanks for participating in or using this guide and happy holidaze! As always, have fun and be safe when celebrating and thanks for supporting your local dispensaries. I’m sure they’d all love nothing more than to be part of your celebration.

For more experienced consumers, a decent amount of the information in this section may be redundant or old news. If you’re just looking to scope out the specials and events, feel free to scroll past this section to the “What’s the Deal?” and/or “Where’s the Party at?” sections below. For those who may be a little more green or new at shopping for cannabis in Montana, you may find some of the following information below valuable. Read it or don’t. It’s a free country, dude.

From my time serving as a budtender and dispensary manager, I always found Leafly, WikiLeaf, and All Bud to be great resources when researching and selecting cannabis products. Use these as references when making your selections or to learn more about cannabis in general. They provide a wealth of information on a variety of cannabis-related subjects that run the gambit from cannabis 101 to deep dives into emerging cannabis science. Boning up on individual terpenes and cannabinoids as well as their effects is always a great idea.

In reaching out to compile the information contained in this guide, I found weedmaps to be incredibly helpful. It’s a great resource for finding a lot of the same information contained in this guide in the way of dispensary websites and addresses. As a word of caution, I did find a small bit of sporadic information on weedmaps to be out of date when compiling this data, so I’d encourage you to verify all of the information contained there. However, the vast majority of the information found there can be deemed reliable.

Research has shown that CBD can help round out the edges of an intense cannabis-induced experience. It’s not a bad idea to keep some around. If you find yourself stuck to the ceiling, it may be just the help you need to find the floor again. CBD inventory may vary from dispensary to dispensary, but most will have at least some selection of CBD products. It’s never a bad thing to have on hand and also doesn’t count against your daily THC limit. I’d recommend looking primarily at products that are labeled “full-spectrum” to insure the products are of high quality.

When consuming cannabis always consider a designated driver, ride shares, or public transportation when and where available. Option’s like Missoula’s Mountain Line, Bozeman’s Streamline, and Billings MET Transit are all good options as well as others.

It should be noted that while recreational cannabis sales became legal on January 1st 2022, provisions in the bill allowed counties to opt in or out based on the wishes of local voters. As a result, not all counties in Montana allow recreational or “adult-use” sales. Refer to the map below for a county-by-county breakdown of where you can and can not purchase recreationally on 710. It also breaks down what kind of taxes you can expect to pay in each county. The current tax rate for recreational cannabis is 20% and 4% for medical. Individual counties and towns can also assess an additional tax of up to 3%.

There’s no shortage of rules and laws when it comes to cannabis in Montana. While many regular consumers are already up to speed, this section is a refresher for the old heads and a crash course for dispensary customers who are a bit green. This guide is for new and old stoners alike so please pardon me if some of this is old news to more seasoned stoners.

As far as laws you should know, these are our concerns, dude.

You must be 21 to purchase recreational cannabis legally in the state of Montana. Expect to have to show a valid form of identification at a dispensary.

The state of Montana restricts daily purchases to a limit of 1 oz of flower or the equivalent in THC mgs. While purchasing flower is very straightforward, it can become a bit confusing as edibles and concentrates become part of the equation. Fortunately POS systems tally it automatically.

All purchases at dispensaries are logged by a system called METRC that tracks all cannabis commerce. This is to prevent consumers from going over their allotted daily limit. The system tracks the data in real time and will be viewable by your budtender at any dispensary you shop at throughout the day. While I can understand the urge and desire to try to take advantage of as many deals as possible throughout the holiday, it’s very important to not try to game the system as it can result in a costly fine for your dispensary. Be cool and keep it to your 1 oz limit. Also it should be noted that many dispensaries are extending sales and discounts outside of just the holiday itself, so there’s plenty of opportunities to take advantage of deals on other days around the holiday as well. Your 1 oz limit resets the next day.

Childproof exit bags are required at Montana dispensaries. Trust me. Budtenders and dispensary owners don’t like it any more than you do. They didn’t make the rule, but it is their obligation to follow it. Don’t hassle them should they charge you for a bag. The best way to avoid this situation is to plan accordingly and put your exit bag(s) in the car the night before.

Kids aren’t allowed in dispensaries. There’s nothing wrong with being a parent and a stoner, but unfortunately Montana laws do not allow minors without valid medical cards and the supervision of a parent in dispensaries.

Don’t divert legally purchased cannabis to people who aren’t supposed to have it. Of all the arguments against legal cannabis, one of the most hotly-contested and oft-mentioned is the fear of cannabis ending up in the hands of children and minors. Don’t do it. It only adds fuel to the demonization of the industry by its naysayers and detractors.

Always enjoy cannabis responsibly. The entire industry stands to bear the brunt of the weight of poor decisions. Don’t get behind the wheel and remember that mixing cannabis with other substances can have unpredictable side effects. Have fun, but be safe.

This should go without being said, but 710 can be an extremely busy holiday for dispensaries. That being said, keep in mind that your budtenders and dispensary staff will be working very hard on the holiday. Do your best to be cool, patient, and don’t forget to tip your budtenders. They definitely appreciate it.

If you’re interested or would like to learn more about the cannabis program in Montana, I’ve always found the state’s website to be a great resource for staying up to speed on the constantly evolving laws and policies.

Please find below a list of all 710 discounts that I know of going on in 2023. Dispensaries are listed below in alphabetical order. Most have links directly to their website where you can find more information.

406 Essence: Billings. 25% off flower, 25% off pre-rolls, 50% off concentrates, 25% off edibles, & a fundraiser for Shauna Rudio’s house fire. IG: @406.essence

406 Farmacy: Whitefish. 50% off distillate cartridges, 50% off concentrates, 20% off for the first 100 medical patients, raffling off a $100 gift card, custom rolling tray, custom cartridge battery, and a 406 Farmacy re-stash jar. IG: @406farmacy

710 Montana: Bozeman, Butte, Florence, Helena, & Missoula. 25% off storewide. IG: @howdoyou710montana

Alternative ReLeaf: Libby & Polson. 25% off concentrates. IG: @alternativereleaf

Beartooth Medicinal: Red Lodge. $20-30 eights of select strains (Sakura, Mountain Temple, Purple Pineapple Wookie, Cherry Queen, Chem’s Day Dream), 15% off concentrates, IG: @beartoothdispensary

Bloom: Ashland, Billings, Boulder, Bozeman (Four Corners), Butte, Columbia Falls, Columbus, Craig, Florence, Glendive, Hardin, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Lewistown, Libby, Livingston, Lolo, Sidney, Townsend & Whitefish. 20% off storewide. IG: @therealbloommt

Collective Elevation: Billings, Bozeman, Butte & Missoula. $5 off select concentrates. IG: @collectiveelevation

Chronic Caregivers: Billings. $36.90 select diamonds, $18.45 select shatter, & $24.60 select disposable cartridges. IG: @chroniccaregivers

Euphoria Wellness: Bozeman, Butte, Hamilton & Missoula. $5 off eights (Soultonix strains only), $10 quarters (Soultonix strains only), $5 off Soultonix, pre-rolls, $5 off Soultonix badder and shatter, $10 off Soultonix live rosin, buy one get one half off 100 mg Soultonix brand gummies. Raffling off a Puffco at Jackrabbit Road location in Bozeman. Food truck. See events section for more details. IG: @euphoriawellnessmt

Frosteez: Billings & Missoula. 10% off concentrates. IG: @frosteezcannabisco

Great Northern Dispensary. Great Falls. 20% off flower, 20% off pre-rolls, 20% off concentrate, & 20% off edibles.

The Green Bee: Billings & Lakeside. 20% off flower and $25 select eighths, 10% off select pre-rolls, $20-25 grams of concentrate, 10% off select edibles, & glass raffles. @greenbeebillings

Greener Pastures: Big Sky, Bozeman & Missoula. $5 off concentrates. IG: @greenerpasturesmontana

The Green Haus: Kalispell. 20% off concentrates, 30% off rosin, $80 half ounces & $150 ounces on select flower. IG: @thegreenhaus_406

Herbaceous: Big Sky, Bozeman, Butte. 20% off select concentrates & BOGO concentrates. IG: @herbaceousmt

Holistic Releaf By Design: Billings & Great Falls. $15 select eighths, $15 select grams of concentrate, $15 grams of kief, spend $50 get a gram of bubblehash for $5. BBQ Time with Chef Matt. Raffling off a 710 Labs Terp Cooler/ Dab Refrigerator. IG: @holisticreleafbydesign

Holy Grail Botanicals: Billings. $5 off eighths. IG: @holygrailbotanicals

iDeal Naturals: Billings. $7.10 1/2 gram concentrates (tax not included). IG: @ideal.naturals

Magic City Releaf: Billings, Culberston, & Rockvale. 50% off concentrates, and $10 Purple Haze crumble grams. IG: @magiccityreleaf

Marimint: Billings, Butte & Great Falls. 20% off all grams of concentrate. IG: @marimintmontana

Moncanna: Missoula. 10% off concentrates & BOGO 1/2 off house vape cartridges. IG: @Moncanna406

Montana Advanced Caregivers: Billings & Laurel. $7 grams, $20 eighths, $40 quarters, $120 ounces, $5 pre-rolls, 5 pre-rolls for $20, $5 off all concentrates, 10% off wana gummies and Sinful drinks & raffling off a High Five Duo. IG: @mac_montanaadvancedcaregivers

Montana Canna Co: Kalispell. 20% off select flower, $30 grams of shatter, $35 grams of sap and terp sugar, raffles. IG: @montana_canna_co

Montana Kush: Bozeman, Gallatin Gateway, Helena, & Missoula. 20% off concentrates, & 2 for $20 select crumble. IG: @montanakush

Mountain High: Bozeman. Buy 2 concentrates, get one for a penny. IG: @mountainghighllc

Natural Wellness: Belgrade, Bozeman, Butte, Helena & *Lewistown (medical only in Lewistown). 15% off storewide, $100-150 ounces of flower. IG: @naturalwellness

Nomad Canna: Belgrade, Bozeman & Helena. BOGO 50% off concentrates, IG: nomadcanna

Pure Remedies: Belgrade. $20 Jack Herer .5 gram distillate cartridges, $30 Gelato Crush Diamonds, & 10% off all other products.

Purple Cow: Billings. 20% off concentrates and cartridges. Free battery with purchase of cartridge. IG: @montanapurplecow

Sacred Sun Farms: Bozeman (Four Corners), Glendive, & Wolf Point. $10 off concentrates. IG: @sacredsunfarms2

Serene Green Apothecary: *WHOLESALE ONLY* Dispensary owners and managers can inquire here. Find their products in stock at Mountain High in Bozeman and through their wholesale national distributor through Lazy Daze Cannabis. $7 Sour Tangie pre-rolls, 10% off concentrates, $7 lip glosses, 20% off salted caramels, free Pizza and live DJ (The Goods).

Tamarack Cannabis: Kalispell & Whitefish. 10-30% off select flower, 30% off concentrate, raffle prizes. IG: @tamarackcannabis.mt

Think Higher: Bozeman & Four Corners. 40% off specialty pre-rolls, $35 one gram distillate cartridges, $10 trim run shatter, 40% off select sauces and applesauces, $35 select live rosin, 35% off live distillate cartridges, $5 off The Clear cartridges, $8 select crumble, 15% off select flower, & 10% off everything else. IG: @thinkhighermontana

Uncle Bucks: Billings. 20% off concentrates.

We’d: Missoula. 15% off concentrate. IG: @we_dmissoula

Wild Sky Farms: Glasgow. $20 grams of BHO. IG: @wildskyfarmsinc

Please find below a list of all 710 special events that I know of going on in 2023. As a dude who spent several years planning and executing large scale beer festivals, I can appreciate the time and effort that goes into putting together a great event. Go check these out. Be safe and have a blast! -Dude

Euphoria Wellness 710 Party: Join us for our 710 party on July 8th at Euphoria Bozeman! (2503 Jackrabbit Ln) 12pm-8pm🎉🌿 Get ready for a day filled with good vibes, great food, and even better company. Be one of the first 100 customers and snag a free meal voucher to the delicious Blue Taco Bus + a 1 Penny @drinksinful & @high_road_edibles 🔥 Sip on refreshing cocktails from the 406 Mobile Bar and discover awesome booth sponsors showcasing their brands all day long. Plus don’t miss out on epic 710 sales all day!

Holistic Releaf By Design 710 Party: Discounts, giveaways, raffles, photo booth, K&M Glass booth, BBQ Time with Chef Matt, and one lucky person will win a 710 Labs Terp Cooler/Dab Refrigerator! The party is going down at the Great Falls location.

Special thanks to all who participated and used the guide this year. It was a joy and pleasure to compile this list on behalf of Montana’s cannabis industry. This concludes The Dude’s Stoners’ Atlas 2023 710 Edition. Make sure to check back for next year’s 420 and 710 editions. Have a safe and happy holidaze!