​House Bill 161, Montana’s medical marijuana repeal bill, has only been approved by the House of Representatives. It hasn’t cleared the Senate, nor has it been signed by the governor. But dispensaries in Missoula are concerned about possible negative economic effects if the law is repealed.

Thousands of jobs could be lost, cities would lose revenue from business taxes, and many more people would be relying on food stamps if repeal passes, according to Dave Stephens, owner of Better Life Montana in Missoula.

Montana Kaimin, the student daily at the University of Montana at Missoula. “It’s a bad idea all the way around,” Stephens told Paige Huntoon of thethe student daily at the University of Montana at Missoula.

Stephens said he had hoped to hire more employees in the next year. However, if HB 161 passes, “We’d be out of business,” he said.