H.490
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish an adult use commercial marijuana regulatory system. The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets would license cultivators, wholesalers, product manufacturers, retailers, and testing laboratories. The bill also establishes a structure for taxing commercial sales. It creates a wholesale tax equal to 15 percent of the wholesale sales price, a retail tax equal to 10 percent of the retail sales price, and a local tax of 2.5 percent of the retail sales price. The revenue from these taxes goes to pay for the regulation of marijuana sales, to the General Fund, and to the towns in which the sales are made. The act also allows marijuana cultivation cooperatives whereby up to 10 members may assign their right to grow marijuana to a co-op that will manage the cultivation. The marijuana cultivated at the co-op is for the members only.
We agree: We support a regulated, adult use commercial cannabis market.
Full text of H.490
Sponsors: Rep. Samuel Young. Additional Sponsors: Rep. Susan Buckholz, Rep. Mollie S. Burke, Rep. Stephen Carr, Rep. Selene Colburn, Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, Rep. Diana Gonzalez, Rep. Warren F. Kitzmiller, Rep. Michael Mrowicki, Rep. Jean O’Sullivan, Rep. Barbara Rachelson, Rep. David Sharpe, Rep. Joseph “Chip” Troiano
S.16
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to waive the three-month patient-healthcare professional relationship requirement when the patient is referred to a specialist who completes a full examination and signs the medical verification form; expand list of qualifying medical conditions; increase the number of dispensaries from four to eight; allow dispensaries to advertise; allow a patient to possess up to three ounces of marijuana; clarify that a dispensary may cultivate marijuana outdoors provided the marijuana is in an enclosed, locked facility shielded from public view; allow a patient or caregiver to cultivate marijuana even if the patient has designated a dispensary; allow a dispensary to convert to a for-profit; require continuing medical education to include training on the Medical Marijuana Registry; require the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to independently test marijuana- infused edible or potable products sold by a dispensary to ensure appropriate labeling of the tetrahydrocannabinol content.
We agree: We support upping the number of dispensaries from four to eight, and believe there should be open competition for those spots. We think that dispensaries should be for-profit and allowed to advertise.
Full text of S.16
Sponsors: Sen. Dick Sears. Additional Sponsors: Sen. Tim Ashe, Sen. Joe Benning, Sen. Brian Campion, Sen. Dustin Degree, Sen. Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, Sen. Jeanette K. White
H.170
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to remove all criminal and civil penalties for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana and cultivation of two mature marijuana plants and seven immature marijuana plants for a person who is 21 years of age or older; adjust the civil and criminal penalties for possession and cultivation of marijuana in amounts in excess of the legalized amounts; establish civil penalties for consuming marijuana in public and cultivating marijuana in a manner that is not on property lawfully in possession of the cultivator or without the consent of the person in lawful possession of the property or outside an enclosure that is screened from public view; establish criminal penalties and a civil action for damages for furnishing marijuana to a person under 21 years of age; and establish a crime of chemical extraction of marijuana. (Does not create a regulatory structure for a legal marijuana market.)
We Agree: This bill is a good start in removing criminal and civil penalties for possession. It is worth noting that several legislators have hinged their support for H.170 on the condition that H.24 also pass. Maxine Grad has sponsored both of those bills.
Full text of H.170
Sponsors: Rep. Maxine Grad. Additional Sponsors: Rep. Charles Conquest, Rep. Thomas Burditt