State aims to have permanent medical pot rules in place by late November

Lansing — Permanent rules for the state’s growing medical marijuana industry should be in place by late November, a state official said Monday.

State regulators took comment from more than a dozen people Monday on the proposed Medical Marihuana Facilities rules that create a framework for the industry. Existing medial marijuana businesses have been operating under emergency rules since May.

Those rules expire Nov. 30, “so we want to make sure we have this framework in place,” said Andrew Brisbo, director for the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation.

Among the concerns expressed by those commenting Monday were low THC allowances for topical medical marijuana treatments, the time-intensive application process and demands for information from caregivers that could affect their licensing prospects.

“What they’re doing is they're going to freeze out from the business anyone who’s been operating within the last 10 years,” said Matthew Abel, a cannabis lawyer and executive director of Michigan NORML.

The proposed administrative rules are posted at www.michigan.gov/orr.

People can submit written comment on the administrative rules to the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation through the end of the week at LARA-BMMR-Legal@Michigan.gov. The public comment received Monday and any written comment submitted throughout the week will be reviewed by the bureau for possible changes to the administrative rules.

The final draft rules will be posted and then submitted to the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which will have 15 session days to act on the proposed rules.

Even as the bureau adopts the rules, Brisbo said, it will engage with its advisory to the board to continue to review the framework.  

“We expect the administrative rules for this industry to be a consistent evolution as the industry itself evolves,” Brisbo said.

The hearing Monday comes a few days after an appellate judge granted an injunction against the state, allowing all medical marijuana businesses currently operating under emergency rules while applying for licenses to continue operating through Dec. 15.

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