Michigan Governor to Abolish Medical Cannabis Licensing Board

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]O[/dropcap]n Friday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order, which seeks to abolish  the state’s Medical Marihuana Licensing Board and the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation. The abrupt decision was made based upon the inadequacies of the board and its inability to process license applications in a timely manner. A new agency to oversee the medical and recreational markets would take its place.

Medical cannabis licenses weren’t being processed efficiently, with the state’s new recreational market already looming. Since July, when the board began processing applications, only 121 licenses for the entire state have been approved, the Detroit Free Press reports. Among the 121 licenses, only 105 businesses have received the green light from state regulatory assessments and are actually in operation. That includes 31 growers, 11 processors 54 provisioning centers, five transporters and four testing labs.

Since the board’s inception, it’s been the centerpiece of local controversy. Retired sergeant for the Michigan State Police, Donald Bailey, for instance, is suspiciously a member of the board.

The governor explained her reasoning to address the concerns of the state’s cannabis industry. “This executive order will eliminate inefficiencies that have made it difficult to meet the needs of Michigan’s medical marijuana patients,” Whitmer said in a statement.  The governor also set in motion a plan to create an agency to replace the agencies and to oversee both the medical and recreational markets.

The order was received with cautiously optimistic reactions. “It’s a good move if it works,” CULTURE legal contributor Denise Pollicella said. “I hope we’re not replacing one inefficient bureaucratic process with another.”

Unlicensed provisioning centers that meet a list of requirements can remain open, but the March 31 dealing to get a license remains in effect, unless another extension for a grace period is granted. The licensing deadlines have been extended numerous times already.

The Michigan Legislature now has 60 days to review the executive order and proceed to approve or reject it. Recently, the state’s legislature rejected an environment-related executive order.