Yellowstone County approves 12‑month compliance window for six marijuana businesses after contested public hearing

The Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 24 approved a resolution that gives six marijuana businesses up to 12 months to come into compliance with the county’s zoning code or pursue zone changes, after a public hearing in which owners and an attorney warned the county could face lawsuits.

Monica, a planning division staffer who presented the resolution, told commissioners the county’s comprehensive zoning code does not allow retail marijuana uses in many agricultural and rural residential districts and that several businesses have been operating in conflict with those rules. She said Granite Peak (listed in earlier materials) was excluded from today’s resolution because it had prior written county paperwork that may qualify it as a nonconforming use. "Only the parts of the business that are illegal would have to cease," Monica said, explaining that growing may be allowed while retail or manufacturing on the same parcel may not.

The public hearing drew multiple business owners and an attorney who said county communications were inconsistent and had led owners to rely on official assurances. Katie, an attorney who said she has advocated…