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On Tuesday, a lawmaker from Missoula introduced a bill in the Montana Legislature to legalize recreational marijuana sales and use, although it's unlikely to become law this session.

However, many lawmakers and experts say a citizen ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana sales is highly likely to be on the November 2020 ballot, and at least one poll suggests it could pass.

Rep. Tom Winter, a Democrat representing House District 96, introduced House Bill 770, which would provide for the legalization of recreational marijuana. It will be considered in the House Taxation Committee.

Winter, who was elected last November, said he heard from many constituents on the campaign trail that marijuana legalization was something they wanted.

"Another reason I introduced the bill is everyone thinks this is going to come up, probably through a citizen's initiative, in 2020," he said. "So I really want to utilize the fact that we're a deliberative body to get information on what this means for people."

He said that ballot initiatives can often get passed without voters realizing all the ramifications, so he would rather have a bill be debated in the Legislature.