Justin Franz

Author's posts

Medical Marijuana Users Brace for Shortages as Montana’s Recreational Market Opens

Sales of recreational marijuana are underway, and dispensary owners say they’re not ready to meet the demand. That may mean problems for the 55,000 Montanans who hold medical marijuana cards.

Don’t Eat the Yellowstone Snow: Elite Ski Resort Aims to Turn Sewage Into Powder

An exclusive Montana ski resort frequented by the likes of Bill Gates and Justin Timberlake says it can safely turn wastewater into snow to the benefit of skiers and the local watershed.

States Aim to Chip Away at Abortion Rights With Supreme Court in Mind

Legislatures in conservative-leaning states across the country are pushing bills that would restrict abortion and, with a conservative Supreme Court in place, could erode abortion protections under Roe v. Wade.

As More Red States Legalize Marijuana, Some Officials Try to Nip It in the Bud

Recreational marijuana may face resistance from GOP-dominated state governments despite being voted into law in Montana, South Dakota and Arizona.

A Fair to Remember: County Fairs Weigh Risk of Outbreak Against Financial Ruin

The threat of COVID-19 forced many county fairs to cancel this year. But some rural communities that depend on the annual economic and cultural boost decided to go ahead despite a pattern of outbreaks.

Altered Mindsets: Marijuana Is Making Its Mark on Ballots in Red States

Voters in Montana and several other conservative-leaning states will decide in November whether to legalize medical or recreational marijuana.