Diligent Endeavor

Michigan’s new medical cannabis licensing board will oversee the initial development of licensure for various types of businesses in order to comply with the state’s relatively new sweeping medical cannabis regulations. On May 26, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed five members to serve on the Michigan Marihuana Licensing Board established by the regulations of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA). The board appointees include former Speaker of the House Rick Johnson, David LaMontaine from the Police Officers’ Association of Michigan, Nichole Cover of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, retired sergeant Donald Bailey and Vivian Pickard, the former president of the General Motors Foundation.

“The board and the department are working diligently to implement the MMFLA and will begin accepting license applications on December 15, 2017, in accordance with the act.”

Board members were chosen for their varied experience and knowledge in fields similar to cannabis. The Medical Marihuana Licensing Board is housed within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The board will also follow the direction of Gov. Rick Snyder. “The members of the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board are appointed by the Governor under the conditions specified in Section 301 of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA),” a spokesperson from LARA told CULTURE. “The board will work in consultation with the department to implement the MMFLA and has the duties specified in Section 303 of the MMFLA. The board and the department are working diligently to implement the MMFLA and will begin accepting license applications on December 15, 2017, in accordance with the act.”

The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) will also serve as a division under LARA and the BMMR will cover all elements related to medical cannabis patients and caregivers and is responsible for the general oversight of regulation and licensing.

The board was needed to accommodate Gov. Snyder’s landmark overhaul of cannabis regulatory bills. The centerpiece, House Bill 4209, along with House Bills 4210 and 4827, regulate Michigan’s notoriously volatile medical cannabis industry. The five-member board will implement the new law and develop license processes for cultivators, processors, transporters, provisioning centers and safety compliance facilities.

The first-ever Michigan Medical Marihuana Licensing Board meeting took place on June 26. It was the first opportunity for aspiring business owners to learn from the source about the processes involved in the implementation of the MMFLA. The meeting took place at the Williams Auditorium in G. Mennen Williams Building Auditorium in Lansing.

The board is expected to advise LARA on developing specific details of the application process. Applications for licenses under MMFLA are expected to be available by December 2017. Approvals are expected during that month or in early 2018.