Mid Summer Sees Ongoing State Reform

As July winds down into an August recess on
Capitol Hill, the pace of reform continues to be set by the states on all
fronts in a number of ways. 

·        
Massachusetts issues a  proposed rule for the state medical cannabis industry

·        
Colorado issues new rules and
guidelines for new dispensaries

·        
Illinois adds seizure disorders
(including epilepsy) to qualifying conditions able to be treated by medicinal
cannabis

The state task force in Colorado,
responsible for suggesting additional regulations for the cannabis industry
tied to Amendment 64—which legalized recreational use— issued its formal
recommendations to the state last week.

The recommendations suggest that only
existing dispensaries serving medical users in good standing should be allowed
to move into the recreational use market. 
The task force also recommended that license holders and all staff have
Colorado residences, although investors are allowed to live outside of state.  Retail transactions will be limited to amounts
less than an ounce and vending machines appear to be well on track to be accepted
for use in the state, as long as they are located inside stores.

In terms of cultivation operations, both
retail shops and dispensaries will still be required to grow 70 percent of what
they sell per the recommendations of the task force, while cultivators would
also be potentially subject to a 15 percent  tax at point of sale.

The state is also expected to implement
regulations for chemicals used in cultivation fairly soon.

The task force’s recommendations continue
not only to shape the debate in Colorado, but around the country as other states
continue to take on reform in varying ways.