It clear that the transition to legalizing recreational marijuana has been hard on Michigan’s medical marijuana patients. And closing down temporarily operating facilities didn’t help matters.

So one of the first orders of business for Governor Whitmer has been to help find a way for these patients to regain access to their medicine.

Thus, two days ago, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) recommended that the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board (MMLB) adopt a resolution to help those folks.

And on January 16th, the Board voted 5-0 in favor of that resolution.

That means that in the next few days, you can expect to see dispensaries reopening to serve medical marijuana patients.

What the Resolution Proposed

Under the direction of new Head Director of LARA, Orlene Hawks, the department recommended to MMLB that they allow temporarily operating facilities to reopen without it affecting their future licensure.

Furthermore, licensed facilities would be able to source product from caregivers without being penalized.

“This recommendation will extend the temporary operation of facilities and allow licensed businesses to remain competitive during this transition period,” said Hawks on Tuesday.

And the MMLB clearly heard her.

No Disciplinary Action Will Be Taken

These six words make all the difference.

So here’s how it all breaks down.

It is now CLEAR that disciplinary action will not be taken against an applicant in the following circumstances:

For Temporarily Operating Facilities (through March 31, 2019)

  • The applicant’s proposed facility is within a municipality that had an authorizing ordinance in place by December 15, 2017.
  • The applicant applied for a license no later than February 15, 2018.
  • The applicant notifies the Department within one business day of knowledge of any adverse reaction to a marijuana product sold or transferred.

For Licensed Provisioning Centers (through March 31, 2019)

For these centers, there will be no disciplinary action taken for purchasing marijuana products from either a registered primary caregiver or from a temporarily operating facility. The licensee must meet all the following criteria:

  • Obtain signed patient consent prior to selling any marijuana products that have not been tested in full compliance with the law and administrative rules.
  • Enter all inventory into the statewide monitoring system immediately upon receipt from a caregiver or from a temporarily operating facility.
  • Verify and confirm – before any sale or transfer – with government issued photo identification and the statewide monitoring system that the customer holds a valid registry identification card.
  • Enter all sales in the statewide monitoring system and determine that sales will not exceed daily purchasing limits.
  • Notify LARA within one business day of knowledge of any adverse reaction to a marijuana product sold or transferred.

For Licensed Growers or Processors (through March 31, 2019)

The Board will not take disciplinary action against a licensed grower or processor for purchasing marijuana products from either a temporarily operating facility or a registered primary caregiver, as long as the licensee does all the following:

  • Enter all marijuana products as inventory into the statewide monitoring system immediately upon receipt.
  • Tag or package all inventory that has been identified in the statewide monitoring system.
  • Only transfer marijuana products that have been tested in full compliance with the law and administrative rules.
  • Notify LARA within one business day of becoming aware of any adverse reaction to a marijuana product sold or transferred.

The transition from just medical marijuana to recreational marijuana legalization hasn’t been easy. But Michigan isn’t alone. Other states, such as Colorado, ran into the same issues.

Fortunately, LARA and MMLB have opted to not make life harder for medical marijuana patients who were already struggling.

And as far as we’re concerned, it was the right thing to do.

Watch for Dispensaries Reopening to Serve Medical Marijuana Patients

They should all be operational again by the end of this month – at the latest.

And if you’re among those dispensaries reopening to serve medical marijuana patients, let us help you get your name out there.

We so appreciate what you’re doing for the community.

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