USA Roundup: States, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Louisana, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia

STATES

Two states could elect governors who support reforming cannabis laws this November. In New Jersey, Democratic candidate Phil Murphy says he’ll legalize recreational marijuana if he wins the race to succeed Chris Christie. In Virginia, Democrat Ralph Northam has focused on marijuana decriminalization as a social-justice issue.

Several more will be running in other states next year. In Colorado, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) announced in June that he would run for governor in 2018. Polis, currently serving his fifth term in the House, was one of the founding members of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and has championed reforming cannabis laws.

In Colorado, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) announced in June that he would run for governor in 2018. Polis, currently serving his fifth term in the House, was one of the founding members of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and has championed reforming cannabis laws.

ARKANSAS

Arkansas Finance Department Flooded with MMJ Industry Applications on Deadline Day

COLORADO

Edibles

The deadline for compliance with new edible restrictions and labeling requirements is fast-approaching. Infused product manufacturers (medical and retail) may no longer produce, transfer, or donate any edible marijuana products in the shape of a human, animal, or fruit or shapes that bear the likeness or contain characteristics of a realistic or fictional human, animal, or fruit, including artistic, caricature, or cartoon renderings. Also beginning on October 1, 2017, no medical marijuana center or retail marijuana store may sell any non-compliant edible product. Any marijuana business with non-compliant edible products must follow waste disposal rules.

DELAWARE

Delaware Eases MMJ Access for PTSD Patients

LOUISANA

Louisiana’s first medical marijuana grower contract is done

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article173930676.html?mc_cid=bd5165d9d5&mc_eid=178dec0b63

Louisiana State University has completed its contract with the company that will grow medical marijuana for the school and said Monday the drug is expected to reach patients by the middle of next year.

Las Vegas-based GB Sciences is the first of only two producers of medical marijuana planned in Louisiana, through a deal with the LSU AgCenter. The company will start renovating its planned production facility immediately, according to a statement from the AgCenter.

Lawmakers agreed to a framework for dispensing medical marijuana in 2015, but only allowed the agricultural centers at LSU and Southern University to grow the product. Southern is expected to choose a vendor to run its program Friday.

MAINE

Draft Bill Info

Draft bill would tax Maine recreational pot sales at 20%

It would prohibit marijuana social clubs until June 1, 2019, but allow drive-thru and internet purchases.

AUGUSTA — The draft of a bill designed to lay the groundwork for the regulation of marijuana in Maine would tax retail sales of the drug at 20 percent and allow medical marijuana dispensaries to be run as for-profit entities rather than as nonprofits.

The Press Herald obtained a copy of the bill that is being released to the public Tuesday. Other highlights include provisions to allow marijuana clubs to be licensed starting June 1, 2019, drive-thru sales as long as they are not prohibited by local ordinance, as well as internet sales and deliveries.

See Draft Bill at  http://www.pressherald.com/2017/09/12/draft-bill-would-levy-20-tax-on-recreational-pot-sales/

 

Their latest update…..

What has changed?

  • Authority given to Department of Administrative and Financial Services (Bureau of Alcohol and Lottery Operations) and Department of Agriculture, with consult authority to Departments of Labor and Public Safety.
  • State will grant contingent licenses, municipalities will have the authority to grant or deny within jurisdiction, and then state will finalize the license. Municipalities are given considerable authority and local control over all aspects of the market.
  • Cultivation, manufacturing, and retail locations may only produce medical OR adult-use marijuana. Cultivation and manufacturing are limited to individual facilities, and retail is limited to premises. Defining what these terms mean is a priority for MPRM (see below about our priorities and how to get involved).
  • Mandatory testing for marijuana flower and products, which includes, but is not limited to, testing for: solvents, poisons, toxins, harmful chemicals and microbes, dangerous molds and mildews, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides, and THC characteristics.
  • Home cultivation is limited to 6 mature plants per adult, with no more than 12 personal plants (medical and/or adult-use) per parcel/tract of land

 

MPRM Priorities:

Here are the priorities of the coalition ahead of next week’s hearing:

  1. Preserve non-profit conversion of dispensaries in bill language. The conversion language is currently included, but the committee chairs have indicated they will push to take this out.
  2. Provide clarity around the co-mingling of sales of marijuana, specifically what is meant by “premises.”
  3. Allow the adult-use program to begin before the state tracking system is established, provided the business establishment preserves the data that would be required by the tracking system anyway. The lack of a functional tracking system when licenses are available would create a bottleneck to the start of the adult-use program.
  4. One licensing process for labs for medical and adult use
  5. Clarifying the geographic scope and definition of a store, including a requirement that there be an operational store front, for internet sales
  6. One time transfer of medical marijuana plants and products to the adult-use program

 

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules Field Sobriety Tests Not Valid to Test Cannabis Impairment

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Marijuana Possession Is Officially Decriminalized in New Hampshire

https://merryjane.com/news/new-hampshire-marijuana-decriminalization-official

Marijuana possession is no longer a criminal offense in New Hampshire. Granite State residents still can’t buy their weed in retail shops or legally grow their own at home, but thanks to decriminalization legislation passed earlier this year, no one will be spending time in jail for a few dime bags.

According to Tom Angell at Forbes, anyone caught in New Hampshire with three quarters of an ounce of weed or less will be subject to a simple fine of $100 for a first or second time offense. On a third possession stop within three years, the fine jumps to $300, before finally becoming a criminal misdemeanor only on the fourth such police encounter.

Before this weekend, even carrying one gram of marijuana was subject to a misdemeanor criminal charge worth up to $2,000 in fines and one year in jail.

 

OHIO

UNIVERSITY TESTING LABORATORY APPLICATION Q&A PART II

http://medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/News?articleID=77

The Department of Commerce has posted answers to additional questions the Department received during the application process for medical marijuana testing laboratories for Ohio’s public institutions of higher learning. Click here to view the additional questions and answers.

THE OHIO MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONTROL PROGRAM AND THE STATE OF OHIO BOARD OF PHARMACY ISSUE REQUEST FOR DISPENSARY APPLICATIONS

The MMCP and the State Board of Ohio Pharmacy have released materials to allow dispensary applicants to submit applications. Dispensary applications will be accepted online from November 3, 2017 to November 17, 2017. Click here to view the full set of application documents.

The Model Application provided is for informational purposes only. Do not submit that document to the State Board of Pharmacy. Applications must be submitted electronically using the link that will be provided at www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/dispensaries.

Please be aware that the Board of Pharmacy’s dispensary licensing process is independent of the Department of Commerce’s licensing process for cultivators. The Department intends to award cultivator licenses in the month of November, as previously indicated. For more information on the Department of Commerce’s licensing of cultivators please click here.

 

OREGON

Oregon’s marijuana regulatory agency faces state audit

New Appointments At Oregon Liquor Control Commission

They also manage cannabis so useful knowledge

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Paul Rosenbaum and Jennifer Currin appointed to OLCC’s Board of Commissioners

Commissioners Marvin Révoal & Pamela Weatherspoon Reappointed

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two new Commissioners, Paul Rosenbaum (Western District) and Jennifer Currin (5th Congressional District) join the Oregon Liquor Control Commission following Oregon Senate confirmation on September 19, 2017.  The Senate also confirmed the re-appointments of Commissioner Marvin Révoal (4th Congressional District) and Commissioner Pamela Weatherspoon (1st Congressional District.)

Paul Rosenbaum is currently Chief Executive Officer of SWR Corporation and previously served as Chairman of the Board and CEO for Rentrak Corporation as well as Chief partner at Rosenbaum Law Center.  He served as a Representative in the Michigan Legislature from 1972-1978, during which time he chaired the House Judiciary Committee and was legal counsel to the Speaker of the House.  Under Governor Kulongoski, he was one of nine members on the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Portland, during which he was Vice Chair for four years. Rosenbaum currently serves on the board for the De Paul Treatment center, Oregon’s largest treatment center for drug and alcohol abuse, is on the Providence Heart & Vascular Institute Foundation Advisory Council and is the Immediate Past President of Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation Council of Trustees.

Jennifer Currin, partner at Corey, Byler & Rew law firm in Pendleton, is an active member of the Pendleton community. She has been a volunteer for both the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon for more than 25 years.  She is also involved as an announcer for the Pendleton Junior American Indian Beauty Pageant and is a member of the Pendleton Rotary Club.  Currin is a graduate of Willamette University and received her Juris Doctorate from University of Idaho College of Law.

Rosenbaum will represent the newly created Western District and Currin will represent the 5th Congressional District.  The seven citizen Commissioners are the policy-making body of the OLCC.  They meet monthly for one to two days to made decisions on licensing, rules, contested case hearings and appointments of liquor store agents.  Commission meetings are held every month at OLCC’s main office, 9079 SE McLoughlin Blvd., in Portland.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission issues licenses for and regulates Oregon’s recreational marijuana and alcohol industries.  The OLCC is the third largest revenue-generating state agency, and most of the revenue distributed to the state, counties, and cities comes from the sale of distilled spirits.  The OLCC also administers the bottle bill.

 

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia seeks $2 million to start medical cannabis program

 

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