More than a dozen other medical cannabis-related bills have been introduced this legislative session. They include:
• Senate Bill 145, which would authorize the manufacture and distribution of cannabis seeds and cannabis clones by medical cannabis dispensary licensees, was combined with Senate Bill 254, which would allow dispensaries to distribute cannabis propagules and cuttings to authorized patients and caregivers, and was passed with amendments, including a cap on the number of clones or cuttings. It next needs to secure a hearing before the Committee on Judiciary.
• Senate Bill 629, which would allow primary caregivers and qualifying out-of-state patients to enter restricted areas within a medical cannabis retail dispensary, was passed with amendments. It next needs to secure a hearing before the Committee on Judiciary.
• Senate Bill 1139, which seeks to increase the patient registration fee by $10 starting in 2022, from the current $35 for in-state patients and $45 for out-of-state patients, was passed with amendments. The measure would also fund three full-time positions via the medical cannabis registry and regulation special fund. It next needs to secure a hearing before the Committee on Ways and Means. A companion bill in the House, HB 985, has yet to be scheduled for the first of three committee hearings.
• House Bill 477, which would increase the allowable number of production centers and retail dispensing locations per dispensary license and authorize the Department of Health to allow a licensed dispensary to purchase medical cannabis or manufactured cannabis products from another licensed dispensary to ensure ongoing qualified patient access, will be taken up by the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Homelessness today. A companion bill in the Senate, SB 1332, has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• House Bill 482, which would authorize dispensaries to distribute cannabis propagules and cuttings to individuals authorized to cultivate cannabis plants for medical use, will also be taken up today by the Health, Human Services and Homelessness committee. A companion bill in the Senate, SB 481, has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• Senate Bill 253, which would permit qualifying patients to be reimbursed by health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations for amounts spent on medical cannabis products. The measure has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• Senate Bill 64 would prohibits some employers from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or term or condition of employment based on the person’s status as a medical cannabis cardholder. The measure has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• Senate Bill 1272, which would give naturopathic physicians the same authority as physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to provide written certifications to qualified patients for the medical use of cannabis, has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• Senate Bill 1372 would create a cultivation facility license to allow cultivators to grow cannabis for sale to licensed dispensaries. It has yet to be scheduled for the first of two committee hearings.
• House Bill 667 would authorize the Department of Health to issue medical cannabis delivery permits and medical cannabis transporter licenses for the delivery of medical cannabis, increase the allowable number of retail dispensing locations and cannabis plants per dispensary license, and permit a licensed dispensary to purchase medical cannabis or manufactured cannabis products from another licensed dispensary. The measure has yet to be scheduled for the first of three committee hearings.
• House Bill 751 would require qualifying patients obtain medical cannabis products from certain authorized sources effective this year, limiting to five the number of patients that cultivate cannabis at a single site and prohibit at the end of this year primary caregivers from cultivating cannabis for any qualifying patient. The measure has yet to be scheduled for the first of three committee hearings.