Senate Health Committee Chairman Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez announced Sunday that on-site inspections of medical cannabis establishments will take place this week.
The on-site inspections, scheduled for Tuesday, stem from Act 42 of 2017, the Law to Manage the Study, Development and Research of Cannabis for Innovation, Applicable Standards and Limits.
The first visit is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the Cannalytics Bioscience Labs. Subsequently, the committee will visit Novacann Labs Corp. and Green Health Puerto Rico as part of an oversight process to gather firsthand information on the operation of various program components.
“The Legislative Assembly has a duty to exercise serious, objective, and responsible oversight,” Morales said. “These on-site inspections will allow us to learn firsthand how these establishments operate and to gather valuable information to strengthen the Health Committee’s investigation. Our commitment is to ensure that the Medical Cannabis Program operates transparently, complies with the law, and serves the best interests of patients and the people of Puerto Rico.”
The committee will evaluate the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board’s compliance with its legal obligations and the transparency, effectiveness and outcomes of Puerto Rico’s medical cannabis system. The inquiry also examines the program’s administrative, regulatory, scientific and socioeconomic aspects, including its impact on job creation and on patients’ health and quality of life. The investigation is being conducted under Senate Resolution 319.
According to reports, Puerto Rico has more than 130 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, with a high concentration in the San Juan metropolitan area. The industry generates some 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, has more than 115,000 registered patients and records annual statewide sales of about $182 million.
