House Bill 5800 was introduced by
Representative Lucido and referred to the House Judiciary Committee
in August of this year and seeks to amend the Michigan Medical
Marijuana Act (MMMA). The Bill would add the following:
(E)
A PERSON SHALL NOT TRANSPORT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
MARIHUANA OR USABLE MARIHUANA THAT THE PERSON OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER PERSON UNLESS IT IS IN A PACKAGE LABELED WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
MARIHUANA OR USABLE MARIHUANA THAT THE PERSON OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER PERSON UNLESS IT IS IN A PACKAGE LABELED WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1)
THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SUPPLIER.
(2) THE NAME OF THE PATIENT FOR
WHOSE USE THE MARIHUANA OR USEABLE MARIHUANA IS OBTAINED.
(3) THE DATE THE PERSON OBTAINED
THE MARIHUANA OR USABLE MARIHUANA FROM THE SUPPLIER.
(4) THE WEIGHT OF THE MARIHUANA
OR USABLE MARIHUANA, EXCEPT 11 THAT IF THE MARIHUANA OR USABLE
MARIHUANA IS COMBINED WITH A SUBSTRATE TO AID IN EFFECTIVE DELIVERY
OF THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS IN MARIHUANA, THE LABEL SHALL INDICATE THE
GROSS WEIGHT AND THE NUMBER OF TREATMENT DOSES. THE LABEL MEETS THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBDIVISION IF IT INDICATES THE QUANTITY AT THE
TIME THE MARIHUANA OR USABLE MARIHUANA WAS RECEIVED FROM THE
SUPPLIER.
(F)
SUBSECTION (E) DOES NOT APPLY TO PHARMACEUTICAL-GRADE MARIHUANA THAT
IS REGULATED UNDER AND COMPLIES WITH ARTICLE 8 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CODE, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.8101 TO 333.8511.
(G)
A PERSON SHALL NOT SMOKE USABLE MARIHUANA IN OR UPON A MOTOR VEHICLE
OR ANY SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE DESIGNED FOR LAND TRAVEL. A PERSON WHO
VIOLATES THIS SUBSECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY
IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 93 DAYS 24 OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN
$500.00, OR BOTH.
Senator
Jones has been failing to Pass HB 4209, The Michigan Medical
Marijuana Facilities Act, that has been paired with seed to sale
tracking systems, third party secured transport for commercial state-licensed grows, and other drastic changes to the MMMA that would force
caregivers out of the dispensaries. Senator Jones is known for
passing a series of amendments to the MMMA back in 2012 that placed
restrictions on home cultivation, meds in the trunk law, extra
requirements for certifications and restrictions on caregivers with
felonies. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof has refused to bypass
the committee that Jones chairs and send the bills to the floor.
Lobbying groups for marijuana dispensary groups in Washtenaw and
Wayne County are hoping to pass this package of bills this November
or December during the lame duck session. They claim that the idea of
the possibility of full legalization according by means of one of the
statewide petitions has pushed lawmakers to move on regulations for
dispensaries and growing in Michigan.
Caregiver
groups and hydroponic stores are urging their people to stay in touch
with their Senators and Representatives and tell them to vote against
these changes to the MMMA. They are hoping when legislation is
reintroduced next year, things are more favorable and inline with what the
bills looked like when it was called The Michigan Medical Marijuana
Provisioning Centers Act and the caregivers could transfer their
overages to the dispensaries.
