A legislative proposal to legalize recreational marijuana has been passed by a key committee in the House of Representatives.
The House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee voted 17 to 3 today to pass House Bill 1633, sending it to the full House of Representatives. .
Under the proposed law, those 21 and older would be allowed to possess and consume marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use. A system of licensed, regulated and state-operate marijuana stores would open throughout the state, 15 in total.
The law would retain criminal penalties for those caught smoking marijuana in public three or more times, with the first two times being a civil infraction.
The measure also:
- Places primary enforcement authority with the Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
- Establishes a cannabis board to study cannabis and make recommendations to the Commission on implementation and changes to the new laws and regulations.
- Requires the Commission to adopt a broad and comprehensive range of rules relative to the regulation of cannabis cultivation facilities and dual use permits within one year.
- Requires the Commission, within 15 months of the effective date, to develop an informational handout in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services for statewide distribution.
- Provides that the Commission shall develop or contract for an inventory tracking system for the growth and tracking of cannabis products.
- Includes a reporting requirement for the Commission to make written recommendation to the legislature within 36 months of passage of the bill regarding the regulation of hemp.
- Provides that the Commission shall develop rules, no later than 12 months after the bill’s passage, for Alternative Treatment Centers to apply for dual use certification. This process would involve consulting with the local municipalities where the store operations are planned.
