Maybe not great news, but pretty good news for Michigan's medical cannabis.
Medical marijuana bills win final approval from Michigan legislature
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan would tax and regulate medical marijuana in a tiered licensing system under legislation that has won final legislative approval and that is expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
House voted 83-22 for a main bill Wednesday to require a state operating license to grow, process, sell, transport or test marijuana used for medical purposes. Another bill clarifies that allowable marijuana includes non-smokable forms such as oils, food items and pills.
Well, that sucks a lot. In Maryland, edibles will not be sold and that makes more sense to me that this. With pre-packaged edibles there is a chance for them to be mistaken for candy (have seen Gummy Bear type edibles in CO).
To eliminate smoke/vapeable forms is just stupid but that matches up completely with my overall opinion of politicians.
It's actually a great thing. It is in addition to the smokeable forms that were already allowed.
It's now official. Gov. Snyder signed the three most important bills and didn't sign the two questionable ones.
Previously all concentrates and edibles were illegal. Edibles could potentially be considered legal if you had a good lawyer, but they would then be subject to the weight restrictions of flowers. So 2.5 ounces of brownies for example, which is probably one or two, not even half a batch.
The previous law was incredibly stupid, even the act of smoking or vaping produces residue that could be considered concentrate and illegal. I don't think anyone was ever prosecuted for that, but still. Pressing one quarter gram nug of rosin could be considered a felony for a medical user before this new law was passed.
The dispensary regulations are more questionable but I personally am in favor of them. They seem to have somehow managed to set it up in a reasonable manner. I am particularly happy about the purity and potency testing requirements. Very few dispensaries go to the trouble and expense of doing that.
I think a lot of the pushback is from some dispensary owners and growers who prefer it to remain like the wild west. As a medical patient I welcome reasonable regulations if they are aimed at improving the safety and consistency of my medication.
The only question is how centralized the production will become, hopefully it remains fairly open to those who embrace the new standards.