Medical marijuana caregivers and patients led the way in the cannabis legalization process in 2008 when voters passed the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. However, since marijuana was legalized by voters in 2018 for recreational adult use, most of the attention has now been on that much larger market. Well, the attention has swung back to medical use and the rules, mainly for caregivers, in a new set of laws. The Michigan Cannabis Safety Act (HB 5300-5302, 5319-53210) would radically change how caregivers are allowed to operate. On Tuesday, the legislation cleared the House Regulatory Reform Committee and now heads to the House for a vote. “We applaud the members of the House Regulatory Reform Committee for taking this major step toward addressing Michigan’s unregulated, unlicensed cannabis market by helping ensure all patients have access to cannabis that is tested, clearly labeled, tracked and licensed,” Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association (MCMA) executive director Steve Linder said in a statement. The new regulations, lobbied for by the MCMA, have become a flashpoint between a handful of the biggest cannabis corporations in the state, and about 30,000 caregivers and their patients. Another organization, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, representing more than 300 businesses, has publicly supported the caregivers and patients in this tussle.
Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news, 10/28/2021 09:39:00