Republican Rep. Ron Marshall of Hamilton has resigned from his position in the state legislature, citing his disagreement with a Republican-backed bill that would create a registry for and ban some vape products containing nicotine. Marshall, who owns two vape shops, expressed disappointment that leaders of his caucus supported the legislation and claimed that Big Tobacco lobbyists have undue influence on policy-making. He recently filed a lawsuit against two big tobacco companies for allegedly violating a 1998 settlement that restricts their lobbying efforts, although the suit was dismissed by a federal judge for lacking standing. Marshall served as the chair of the House Human Services Committee, and Speaker of the House Brandon Ler has not yet announced who will take over the chairship. The Ravalli County Republican Central Committee will be responsible for appointing a replacement to represent the district. Marshall’s resignation comes just before the halfway point of the legislative session, leaving a vacancy in the House of Representatives that will need to be filled promptly. Despite his departure, Marshall’s concerns about the influence of lobbyists in the legislative process and the impact of the vape products bill remain relevant issues for the state of Montana.
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