Michigan Medical Marijuana Act

Michigan Medical Marihuana ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4209

Sep 25, 2016 | Blog, Medical Marijuana, Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, News

MICHIGAN – ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4209

AN ACT to license and regulate medical marihuana growers, processors, provisioning centers, secure transporters, and safety compliance facilities; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; to create a medical marihuana licensing board; to provide for interaction with the statewide monitoring system for commercial marihuana transactions; to create an advisory panel; to provide immunity from prosecution for marihuana-related offenses for persons engaging in marihuana-related activities in compliance with this act; to prescribe civil fines and sanctions and provide remedies; to provide for forfeiture of contraband; to provide for taxes, fees, and assessments; and to require the promulgation of rules.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 101. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “medical marihuana facilities licensing act”.

Sec. 102. As used in this act:

(a) “Advisory panel” or “panel” means the marihuana advisory panel created in section 801.

(b) “Affiliate” means any person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with; is in a partnership or joint venture relationship with; or is a co-shareholder of a corporation, a co-member of a limited liability company, or a co-partner in a limited liability partnership with a licensee or applicant.

(c) “Applicant” means a person who applies for a state operating license. With respect to disclosures in an application, or for purposes of ineligibility for a license under section 402, the term applicant includes an officer, director, and managerial employee of the applicant and a person who holds any direct or indirect ownership interest in the applicant.

(d) “Board” means the medical marihuana licensing board created in section 301.

(e) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(f) “Grower” means a licensee that is a commercial entity located in this state that cultivates, dries, trims, or cures and packages marihuana for sale to a processor or provisioning center.

(g) “Licensee” means a person holding a state operating license.

(h) “Marihuana” means that term as defined in section 7106 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7106.

(i) “Marihuana facility” means a location at which a license holder is licensed to operate under this act.

(j) “Marihuana plant” means any plant of the species Cannabis sativa L.

(k) “Marihuana-infused product” means a topical formulation, tincture, beverage, edible substance, or similar product containing any usable marihuana that is intended for human consumption in a manner other than smoke inhalation. Marihuana-infused product shall not be considered a food for purposes of the food law, 2000 PA 92, MCL 289.1101 to 289.8111.

(l) “Michigan medical marihuana act” means the Michigan medical marihuana act, 2008 IL 1, MCL 333.26421 to 333.26430.

(m) “Municipality” means a city, township, or village.

(n) “Paraphernalia” means any equipment, product, or material of any kind that is designed for or used in growing, cultivating, producing, manufacturing, compounding, converting, storing, processing, preparing, transporting, injecting, smoking, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body, marihuana.

(o) “Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, trust, or other legal entity.

(p) “Plant” means any living organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis and has observable root formation or is in growth material.

(q) “Processor” means a licensee that is a commercial entity located in this state that purchases marihuana from a grower and that extracts resin from the marihuana or creates a marihuana-infused product for sale and transfer in packaged form to a provisioning center.

(r) “Provisioning center” means a licensee that is a commercial entity located in this state that purchases marihuana from a grower or processor and sells, supplies, or provides marihuana to registered qualifying patients, directly or through the patients’ registered primary caregivers. Provisioning center includes any commercial property where marihuana is sold at retail to registered qualifying patients or registered primary caregivers. A noncommercial location used by a primary caregiver to assist a qualifying patient connected to the caregiver through the department’s marihuana registration process in accordance with the Michigan medical marihuana act is not a provisioning center for purposes of this act.

(s) “Registered primary caregiver” means a primary caregiver who has been issued a current registry identification card under the Michigan medical marihuana act.

(t) “Registered qualifying patient” means a qualifying patient who has been issued a current registry identification card under the Michigan medical marihuana act or a visiting qualifying patient as that term is defined in section 3 of the Michigan medical marihuana act, MCL 333.26423.

(u) “Registry identification card” means that term as defined in section 3 of the Michigan medical marihuana act, MCL 333.26423.

(v) “Rules” means rules promulgated under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, by the department in consultation with the board to implement this act.

(w) “Safety compliance facility” means a licensee that is a commercial entity that receives marihuana from a marihuana facility or registered primary caregiver, tests it for contaminants and for tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids, returns the test results, and may return the marihuana to the marihuana facility.

(x) “Secure transporter” means a licensee that is a commercial entity located in this state that stores marihuana and transports marihuana between marihuana facilities for a fee.

(y) “State operating license” or, unless the context requires a different meaning, “license” means a license that is issued under this act that allows the licensee to operate as 1 of the following, specified in the license:

(i) A grower.

(ii) A processor.

(iii) A secure transporter.

(iv) A provisioning center.

(v) A safety compliance facility.

(z) “Statewide monitoring system” or, unless the context requires a different meaning, “system” means an internet-based, statewide database established, implemented, and maintained by the department under the marihuana tracking act, that is available to licensees, law enforcement agencies, and authorized state departments and agencies on a 24-hour basis for all of the following:

(i) Verifying registry identification cards.

(ii) Tracking marihuana transfer and transportation by licensees, including transferee, date, quantity, and price.

(iii) Verifying in commercially reasonable time that a transfer will not exceed the limit that the patient or caregiver is authorized to receive under section 4 of the Michigan medical marihuana act, MCL 333.26424.

(aa) “Usable marihuana” means the dried leaves, flowers, plant resin, or extract of the marihuana plant, but does not include the seeds, stalks, and roots of the plant.

EHB 4209

PART 2. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS

Sec. 201. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, if a person has been granted a state operating license and is operating within the scope of the license, the licensee and its agents are not subject to any of the following for engaging in activities described in subsection (2):

(a) Criminal penalties under state law or local ordinances regulating marihuana.

(b) State or local criminal prosecution for a marihuana-related offense.

(d) Search or inspection, except for an inspection authorized under this act by law enforcement officers, the municipality, or the department.

(e) Seizure of marihuana, real property, personal property, or anything of value based on a marihuana-related offense.

(f) Any sanction, including disciplinary action or denial of a right or privilege, by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau based on a marihuana-related offense.

(2) The following activities are protected under subsection (1) if performed under a state operating license within the scope of that license and in accord with this act, rules, and any ordinance adopted under section 205:

(a) Growing marihuana.

(b) Purchasing, receiving, selling, transporting, or transferring marihuana from or to a licensee, a licensee’s agent, a registered qualifying patient, or a registered primary caregiver.

(d) Possessing or manufacturing marihuana paraphernalia for medical use.

(e) Processing marihuana.

(f) Transporting marihuana.

(g) Testing, transferring, infusing, extracting, altering, or studying marihuana.

(h) Receiving or providing compensation for products or services.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this act, a person who owns or leases real property upon which a marihuana facility is located and who has no knowledge that the licensee violated this act is not subject to any of the following for owning, leasing, or permitting the operation of a marihuana facility on the real property:

(a) Criminal penalties under state law or local ordinances regulating marihuana.

(b) State or local civil prosecution based on a marihuana-related offense.

(d) Search or inspection, except for an inspection authorized under this act by law enforcement officers, the municipality, or the department.

(e) Seizure of any real or personal property or anything of value based on a marihuana-related offense.

(f) Any sanction, including disciplinary action or denial of a right or privilege, by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau.

(4) For the purposes of regulating the commercial entities established under this act, any provisions of the following acts that are inconsistent with this act do not apply to a grower, processor, secure transporter, provisioning center, or safety compliance facility operating in compliance with this act:

(a) The business corporation act, 1972 PA 284, MCL 450.1101 to 450.2098.

(b) The nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192.

(d) The Michigan revised uniform limited partnership act, 1982 PA 213, MCL 449.1101 to 449.2108.

(e) The Michigan limited liability company act, 1993 PA 23, MCL 450.4101 to 450.5200.

(f) 1907 PA 101, MCL 445.1 to 445.5.

(g) 1913 PA 164, MCL 449.101 to 449.106.

(h) The uniform partnership act, 1917 PA 72, MCL 449.1 to 449.48.

Sec. 203. A registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver is not subject to criminal prosecution or sanctions for purchasing marihuana from a provisioning center if the quantity purchased is within the limits established under the Michigan medical marihuana act. A registered primary caregiver is not subject to criminal prosecution or sanctions for any transfer of 2.5 ounces or less of marihuana to a safety compliance facility for testing.

Sec. 204. This act does not limit the medical purpose defense provided in section 8 of the Michigan medical marihuana act, 2008 IL 1, MCL 333.26428, to any prosecution involving marihuana.EHB 4209

Sec. 205. (1) A marihuana facility shall not operate in a municipality unless the municipality has adopted an ordinance that authorizes that type of facility. A municipality may adopt an ordinance to authorize 1 or more types of marihuana facilities within its boundaries and to limit the number of each type of marihuana facility. A municipality may adopt other ordinances relating to marihuana facilities within its jurisdiction, including zoning regulations, but shall not impose regulations regarding the purity or pricing of marihuana or interfering or conflicting with statutory regulations for licensing marihuana facilities. A municipality shall provide the following information to the board within 90 days after the municipality receives notification from the applicant that he or she has applied for a license under this act:

(a) A copy of the local ordinance that authorizes the marihuana facility.

(b) A copy of any zoning regulations that apply to the proposed marihuana facility within the municipality.

(c) A description of any violation of the local ordinance or zoning regulations included under subdivision (a) or (b) committed by the applicant, but only if those violations relate to activities licensed under this act or the Michigan medical marihuana act.

(2) The board may consider the information provided under subsection (1) in the application process. However, the municipality’s failure to provide information to the board shall not be used against the applicant.

(3) A municipal ordinance may establish an annual, nonrefundable fee of not more than $5,000.00 on a licensee to help defray administrative and enforcement costs associated with the operation of a marihuana facility in the municipality.

(4) Information a municipality obtains from an applicant related to licensure under this section is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

Sec. 206. The department, in consultation with the board, shall promulgate rules and emergency rules as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce this act. The rules shall ensure the safety, security, and integrity of the operation of marihuana facilities, and shall include rules to do the following:

(a) Set appropriate standards for marihuana facilities and associated equipment.

(b) Subject to section 408, establish minimum levels of insurance that licensees must maintain.

(c) Establish operating regulations for each category of license to ensure the health, safety, and security of the public and the integrity of marihuana facility operations.

(d) Establish qualifications and restrictions for persons participating in or involved with operating marihuana facilities.

(e) Establish testing standards, procedures, and requirements for marihuana sold through provisioning centers.

(f) Provide for the levy and collection of fines for a violation of this act or rules.

(g) Prescribe use of the statewide monitoring system to track all marihuana transfers, as provided in the marihuana tracking act and this act and provide for a funding mechanism to support the system.

(h) Establish quality control standards, procedures, and requirements for marihuana facilities.

(i) Establish chain of custody standards, procedures, and requirements for marihuana facilities.

(j) Establish standards, procedures, and requirements for waste product disposal and storage by marihuana facilities.

(k) Establish chemical storage standards, procedures, and requirements for marihuana facilities.

(l) Establish standards, procedures, and requirements for securely and safely transporting marihuana between marihuana facilities.

(m) Establish standards, procedures, and requirements for the storage of marihuana by marihuana facilities.

(n) Establish labeling and packaging standards, procedures, and requirements for marihuana sold or transferred through provisioning centers, including a prohibition on labeling or packaging that is intended to appeal to or has the effect of appealing to minors.

(o) Establish daily purchasing limits at provisioning centers for registered qualifying patients and registered primary caregivers to ensure compliance with the Michigan medical marihuana act.

(p) Establish marketing and advertising restrictions for marihuana products and marihuana facilities.

(q) Establish maximum tetrahydrocannabinol levels for marihuana-infused products sold or transferred through provisioning centers.

(r) Establish health standards to ensure the safe preparation of products containing marihuana that are intended for human consumption in a manner other than smoke inhalation.

(s) Establish restrictions on edible marihuana-infused products to prohibit shapes that would appeal to minors.

Sec. 207. A licensee shall adopt and use a third-party inventory control and tracking system that is capable of interfacing with the statewide monitoring system to allow the licensee to enter or access information in the statewide monitoring system as required under this act and rules. The third-party inventory control and tracking system must have all of the following capabilities necessary for the licensee to comply with the requirements applicable to the licensee’s license type:

(a) Tracking all marihuana plants, products, packages, patient and primary caregiver purchase totals, waste, transfers, conversions, sales, and returns that are linked to unique identification numbers.

(b) Tracking lot and batch information throughout the entire chain of custody.

(d) Tracking marihuana plant, batch, and product destruction.

(e) Tracking transportation of product.

(f) Performing complete batch recall tracking that clearly identifies all of the following details relating to the specific batch subject to the recall:

(i) Sold product.

(ii) Product inventory that is finished and available for sale.

(iii) Product that is in the process of transfer.

(iv) Product being processed into another form.

(v) Postharvest raw product, such as product that is in the drying, trimming, or curing process.

(g) Reporting and tracking loss, theft, or diversion of product containing marihuana.

(h) Reporting and tracking all inventory discrepancies.

(i) Reporting and tracking adverse patient responses or dose-related efficacy issues.

(j) Reporting and tracking all sales and refunds.

(k) Electronically receiving and transmitting information as required under this act, the Michigan medical marihuana act, 2008 IL 1, MCL 333.26421 to 333.26430, and the marihuana tracking act.

(l) Receiving testing results electronically from a safety compliance facility via a secured application program interface into the system and directly linking the testing results to each applicable source batch and sample.

(m) Identifying test results that may have been altered.

(n) Providing the licensee with access to information in the tracking system that is necessary to verify that the licensee is carrying out the marihuana transactions authorized under the licensee’s license in accordance with this act.

(o) Providing information to cross-check that product sales are made to a registered qualifying patient or a registered primary caregiver on behalf of a registered qualifying patient and that the product received the required testing.

(p) Providing the department and state agencies with access to information in the database that they are authorized to access.

(q) Providing law enforcement agencies with access to only the information in the database that is necessary to verify that an individual possesses a valid and current registry identification card.

(r) Providing licensees with access only to the information in the system that they are required to receive before a sale, transfer, transport, or other activity authorized under a license issued under this act.

(s) Securing the confidentiality of information in the database by preventing access by a person who is not authorized to access the statewide monitoring system or is not authorized to access the particular information.

(t) Providing analytics to the department regarding key performance indicators such as the following:

(i) Total daily sales.

(ii) Total marihuana plants in production.

(iii) Total marihuana plants destroyed.

(iv) Total inventory adjustments.

Sec. 208. A marihuana facility and all articles of property in that facility are subject to examination at any time by a local police agency or the department of state police.

PART 3. MEDICAL MARIHUANA LICENSING BOARD

Sec. 301. (1) The medical marihuana licensing board is created within the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(2) The board consists of 5 members who are residents of this state, not more than 3 of whom are members of the same political party. The governor shall appoint the members. One of the members shall be appointed from 3 nominees submitted by the senate majority leader and 1 from 3 nominees submitted by the speaker of the house. The governor shall designate 1 of the members as chairperson.EHB 4209

(3) The members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years, except, of those who are first appointed, 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and 2 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. A member’s term expires on December 31 of the last year of the member’s term. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term in the manner of the original appointment.

(4) Each member of the board shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred in carrying out official duties.

(5) A board member shall not hold any other public office for which he or she receives compensation other than necessary travel or other incidental expenses.

(6) A person who is not of good moral character or who has been indicted for, charged with, or convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or forfeited bail concerning any felony or a misdemeanor involving a controlled substance violation, theft, dishonesty, or fraud under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States or a local ordinance in any state involving a controlled substance violation, dishonesty, theft, or fraud that substantially corresponds to a misdemeanor in that state is not eligible to serve on the board.

(7) The governor may remove any member of the board for neglect of duty, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or any other just cause.

(8) The department in conjunction with the board shall employ an executive director and other personnel as necessary to assist the board in carrying out its duties. The executive director shall devote his or her full time to the duties of the office and shall not hold any other office or employment.

(9) The board shall not appoint or employ an individual if any of the following circumstances exist:

(a) During the 3 years immediately preceding appointment or employment, the individual held any direct or indirect interest in, or was employed by, a person who is licensed to operate under this act or under a corresponding license in another jurisdiction or a person with an application for an operating license pending before the board or in any other jurisdiction. The board shall not employ an individual who has a direct or indirect interest in a licensee or a marihuana facility.

(b) The individual or his or her spouse, parent, child, child’s spouse, sibling, or spouse of a sibling has an application for a license pending before the board or is a member of the board of directors of, or an individual financially interested in, any licensee or marihuana facility.

(10) Each member of the board, the executive director, and each key employee as determined by the department shall file with the governor a financial disclosure statement listing all assets and liabilities, property and business interests, and sources of income of the member, executive director, and key employee and his or her spouse, if any, affirming that the member, executive director, and key employee are in compliance with subsection (9)(a) and (b). The financial disclosure statement shall be made under oath and filed at the time of employment and annually thereafter.

(11) Each employee of the board shall file with the board a financial disclosure statement listing all assets and liabilities, property and business interests, and sources of income of the employee and his or her spouse. This subsection does not apply to the executive director or a key employee.

(12) A member of the board, executive director, or key employee shall not hold any direct or indirect interest in, be employed by, or enter into a contract for services with an applicant, a board licensee, or a marihuana facility for a period of 4 years after the date his or her employment or membership on the board terminates. The department in consultation with the board shall define the term “direct or indirect interest” by rule.

(13) For 2 years after the date his or her employment with the board is terminated, an employee of the board shall not acquire any direct or indirect interest in, be employed by, or enter into a contract for services with any applicant, licensee, or marihuana facility.

(14) For 2 years after the termination of his or her office or employment with the board, a board member or an individual employed by the board shall not represent any person or party other than this state before or against the board.

(15) A business entity in which a former board member or employee or agent has an interest, or any partner, officer, or employee of the business entity, shall not make any appearance or represent a party that the former member, employee, or agent is prohibited from appearing for or representing. As used in this subsection, “business entity” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, association, trust, or other form of legal entity.

Sec. 302. The board has general responsibility for implementing this act. The board has the powers and duties specified in this act and all other powers necessary and proper to fully and effectively implement and administer this act for the purpose of licensing, regulating, and enforcing the licensing and regulation system established under this act for marihuana growth, processing, testing, and transporting. The board is subject to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328. The board’s duties include all of the following:

(a) Granting or denying each application for a state operating license within a reasonable time.

(b) Deciding all license applications in reasonable order.EHB 4209

(d) Consulting with the department in promulgating rules and emergency rules as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce this act. The board shall not promulgate a rule establishing a limit on the number or type of marihuana facility licenses that may be granted.

(e) Implementing and collecting the application fee described in section 401 and, in conjunction with the department of treasury, the tax described in section 601 and regulatory assessment described in section 603.

(f) Providing for the levy and collection of fines for a violation of this act or rules.

(g) Providing oversight of a marihuana facility through the board’s inspectors, agents, and auditors and through the state police or attorney general for the purpose of certifying the revenue, receiving complaints from the public, or conducting investigations into the operation of the marihuana facility as the board considers necessary and proper to ensure compliance with this act and rules and to protect and promote the overall safety, security, and integrity of the operation of a marihuana facility.

(h) Providing oversight of marihuana facilities to ensure that marihuana-infused products meet health and safety standards that protect the public to a degree comparable to state and federal standards applicable to similar food and drugs.

(i) Reviewing and ruling on any complaint by a licensee regarding any investigative procedures of this state that are believed to be unnecessarily disruptive of marihuana facility operations. The need to inspect and investigate is presumed at all times. The board may delegate authority to hear, review, or rule on licensee complaints to a subcommittee of the board. To prevail on the complaint, a licensee must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the procedures unreasonably disrupted its marihuana facility operations.

(j) Holding at least 2 public meetings each year. Upon 72 hours’ written notice to each member, the chairperson or any 2 board members may call a special meeting. Three members of the board constitute a quorum, including when making determinations on an application for a license. Three votes are required in support of final determinations of the board on applications for licenses and all other licensing determinations, except that 4 votes are required in support of a determination to suspend or revoke a license. The board shall keep a complete and accurate record of all of its meetings and hearings. Upon order of the board, 1 of the board members or a hearing officer designated by the board may conduct any hearing provided for under this act or by rules and may recommend findings and decisions to the board. The board member or hearing officer conducting the hearing has all powers and rights regarding the conduct of hearings granted to the board under this act. The record made at the time of the hearing shall be reviewed by the board or a majority of the board, and the findings and decision of the majority of the board are the order of the board in the case.

(k) Maintaining records that are separate and distinct from the records of any other state board. The records shall be made available for public inspection subject to the limitations of this act and shall accurately reflect all board proceedings.

(l) Reviewing the patterns of marihuana transfers by the licensees under this act as recorded in a statewide database established for use in administering and enforcing this act and making recommendations to the governor and the legislature in a written annual report to the governor and the legislature and additional reports that the governor requests. The annual report shall be submitted by April 15 of each year and shall include the report required under section 702, a statement of receipts and disbursements by the board, the actions taken by the board, and any additional information and recommendations that the board considers appropriate or that the governor requests.

(m) Except as otherwise provided in this act, all information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data supplied to or used by the board are subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, except for the following:

(i) Unless presented during a public hearing or requested by the licensee or applicant who is the sole subject of the data, all of the information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data supplied to, created by, or used by the board related to background investigation of applicants or licensees and to trade secrets, internal controls, and security measures of the licensees or applicants.

(ii) All information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data supplied to or used by the board that have been received from another jurisdiction or local, state, or federal agency under a promise of confidentiality or if the release of the information is otherwise barred by the statutes, rules, or regulations of that jurisdiction or agency or by an intergovernmental agreement.

(iii) All information in the statewide monitoring system.

Sec. 303. (1) The board has jurisdiction over the operation of all marihuana facilities. The board has all powers necessary and proper to fully and effectively oversee the operation of marihuana facilities, including the authority to do all of the following:

(a) Investigate applicants for state operating licenses, determine the eligibility for licenses, and grant licenses to applicants in accordance with this act and the rules.EHB 4209

(b) Investigate all individuals employed by marihuana facilities.

(c) At any time, through its investigators, agents, auditors, or the state police, without a warrant and without notice to the licensee, enter the premises, offices, facilities, or other places of business of a licensee, if evidence of compliance or noncompliance with this act or rules is likely to be found and consistent with constitutional limitations, for the following purposes:

(i) To inspect and examine all premises of marihuana facilities.

(ii) To inspect, examine, and audit relevant records of the licensee and, if the licensee fails to cooperate with an investigation, impound, seize, assume physical control of, or summarily remove from the premises all books, ledgers, documents, writings, photocopies, correspondence, records, and videotapes, including electronically stored records, money receptacles, or equipment in which the records are stored.

(iii) To inspect the person, and inspect or examine personal effects present in a marihuana facility, of any holder of a state operating license while that person is present in a marihuana facility.

(iv) To investigate alleged violations of this act or rules.

(d) Investigate alleged violations of this act or rules and take appropriate disciplinary action against a licensee.

(e) Consult with the department in adopting rules to establish appropriate standards for marihuana facilities and associated equipment.

(f) Require all relevant records of licensees, including financial or other statements, to be kept on the premises authorized for operation of the marihuana facility of the licensee or in the manner prescribed by the board.

(g) Require that each licensee of a marihuana facility submit to the board a list of the stockholders or other persons having a 1% or greater beneficial interest in the facility in addition to any other information the board considers necessary to effectively administer this act and rules, orders, and final decisions made under this act.

(h) Eject, or exclude or authorize the ejection or exclusion of, an individual from a marihuana facility if the individual violates this act, rules, or final orders of the board. However, the propriety of the ejection or exclusion is subject to a subsequent hearing by the board.

(i) Conduct periodic audits of marihuana facilities licensed under this act.

(j) Consult with the department as to appropriate minimum levels of insurance for licensees in addition to the minimum established under section 408 for liability insurance.

(k) Delegate the execution of any of its powers that are not specifically and exclusively reserved to the board under this act for the purpose of administering and enforcing this act and rules.

(l) Take disciplinary action as the board considers appropriate to prevent practices that violate this act and rules.

(m) Review a licensee if that licensee is under review or the subject of discipline by a regulatory body in any other jurisdiction for a violation of a controlled substance or marihuana law or regulation in that jurisdiction.

(n) Take any other reasonable or appropriate action to enforce this act and rules.

(2) The board may seek and shall receive the cooperation and assistance of the department of state police in conducting background investigations of applicants and in fulfilling its responsibilities under this act. The department of state police may recover its costs of cooperation under this subsection.

Sec. 305. (1) By January 31 of each year, each member of the board shall prepare and file with the governor’s office and the board a disclosure form in which the member does all of the following:

(a) Affirms that the member or the member’s spouse, parent, child, or child’s spouse is not a member of the board of directors of, financially interested in, or employed by a licensee or applicant.

(b) Affirms that the member continues to meet any other criteria for board membership under this act or the rules promulgated by the board.

(c) Discloses any legal or beneficial interests in any real property that is or that may be directly or indirectly involved with operations authorized by this act.

(d) Discloses any other information as may be required to ensure that the integrity of the board and its work is maintained.

(2) By January 31 of each year, each employee of the board shall prepare and file with the board an employee disclosure form in which the employee does all of the following:

(a) Affirms the absence of financial interests prohibited by this act.

(b) Discloses any legal or beneficial interests in any real property that is or that may be directly or indirectly involved with operations authorized by this act.

(c) Discloses whether the employee or the employee’s spouse, parent, child, or child’s spouse is financially interested in or employed by a licensee or an applicant for a license under this act.EHB 4209

(d) Discloses such other matters as may be required to ensure that the integrity of the board and its work is maintained.

(3) A member, employee, or agent of the board who becomes aware that the member, employee, or agent of the board or his or her spouse, parent, or child is a member of the board of directors of, financially interested in, or employed by a licensee or an applicant shall immediately provide detailed written notice thereof to the chairperson.

(4) A member, employee, or agent of the board who within the previous 10 years has been indicted for, charged with, or convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or forfeited bail concerning a misdemeanor involving controlled substances, dishonesty, theft, or fraud or a local ordinance in any state involving controlled substances, dishonesty, theft, or fraud that substantially corresponds to a misdemeanor in that state, or a felony under Michigan law, the laws of any other state, or the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction shall immediately provide detailed written notice of the conviction or charge to the chairperson.

(5) Any member, employee, or agent of the board who is negotiating for, or acquires by any means, any interest in any person who is a licensee or an applicant, or any person affiliated with such a person, shall immediately provide written notice of the details of the interest to the chairperson. The member, employee, or agent of the board shall not act on behalf of the board with respect to that person.

(6) A member, employee, or agent of the board shall not enter into any negotiations for employment with any person or affiliate of any person who is a licensee or an applicant and shall immediately provide written notice of the details of any such negotiations or discussions in progress to the chairperson. The member, employee, or agent of the board shall not take action on behalf of the board with respect to that person.

(7) Any member, employee, or agent of the board who receives an invitation, written or oral, to initiate a discussion concerning employment or the possibility of employment with a person or affiliate of a person who is a licensee or an applicant shall immediately report that he or she received the invitation to the chairperson. The member, employee, or agent of the board shall not take action on behalf of the board with respect to the person.

(8) A licensee or applicant shall not knowingly initiate a negotiation for or discussion of employment with a member, employee, or agent of the board. A licensee or applicant who initiates a negotiation or discussion about employment shall immediately provide written notice of the details of the negotiation or discussion to the chairperson as soon as he or she becomes aware that the negotiation or discussion has been initiated with a member, employee, or agent of the board.

(9) A member, employee, or agent of the board, or former member, employee, or agent of the board, shall not disseminate or otherwise disclose any material or information in the possession of the board that the board considers confidential unless specifically authorized to do so by the chairperson or the board.

(10) A member, employee, or agent of the board or a parent, spouse, sibling, spouse of a sibling, child, or spouse of a child of a member, employee, or agent of the board shall not accept any gift, gratuity, compensation, travel, lodging, or anything of value, directly or indirectly, from any licensee or any applicant or affiliate or representative of a licensee or applicant, unless the acceptance conforms to a written policy or directive that is issued by the chairperson or the board. Any member, employee, or agent of the board who is offered or receives any gift, gratuity, compensation, travel, lodging, or anything of value, directly or indirectly, from any licensee or any applicant or affiliate or representative of an applicant or licensee shall immediately provide written notification of the details to the chairperson.

(11) A licensee or applicant, or an affiliate or representative of an applicant or licensee, shall not, directly or indirectly, give or offer to give any gift, gratuity, compensation, travel, lodging, or anything of value to any member, employee, or agent of the board that the member, employee, or agent of the board is prohibited from accepting under subsection (10).

(12) A member, employee, or agent of the board shall not engage in any conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest and shall immediately advise the chairperson in writing of the details of any incident or circumstances that would present the existence of a conflict of interest with respect to performing board-related work or duties.

(13) A member, employee, or agent of the board who is approached and offered a bribe as described in section 118 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.118, or this act shall immediately provide written account of the details of the incident to the chairperson and to a law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.

(14) A member, employee, or agent of the board shall disclose his or her past involvement with any marihuana enterprise in the past 5 years and shall not engage in political activity or politically related activity during the duration of his or her appointment or employment.

(15) A former member, employee, or agent of the board may appear before the board as a fact witness about matters or actions handled by the member, employee, or agent during his or her tenure as a member, employee, or agent of the board. The member, employee, or agent of the board shall not receive compensation for such an appearance other than a standard witness fee and reimbursement for travel expenses as established by statute or court rule.

(16) A licensee or applicant or any affiliate or representative of an applicant or licensee shall not engage in ex parte communications with a member of the board. A member of the board shall not engage in any ex parte communications with a licensee or an applicant or with any affiliate or representative of an applicant or licensee.EHB 4209

(17) Any board member, licensee, or applicant or affiliate or representative of a board member, licensee, or applicant who receives any ex parte communication in violation of subsection (16), or who is aware of an attempted communication in violation of subsection (16), shall immediately report details of the communication or attempted communication in writing to the chairperson.

(18) Any member of the board who receives an ex parte communication in an attempt to influence that member’s official action shall disclose the source and content of the communication to the chairperson. The chairperson may investigate or initiate an investigation of the matter with the assistance of the attorney general and state police to determine if the communication violates subsection (16) or subsection (17) or other state law. The disclosure under this section and the investigation are confidential. Following an investigation, the chairperson shall advise the governor or the board, or both, of the results of the investigation and may recommend action as the chairperson considers appropriate. If the chairperson receives such an ex parte communication, he or she shall report the communication to the governor’s office for appropriate action.

(19) A new or current employee or agent of the board shall obtain written permission from the executive director before continuing outside employment held at the time the employee begins to work for the board. Permission shall be denied, or permission previously granted shall be revoked, if the executive director considers the nature of the work to create a possible conflict of interest or if it would otherwise interfere with the duties of the employee or agent for the board.

(20) An employee or agent of the board granted permission for outside employment shall not conduct any business or perform any activities, including solicitation, related to outside employment on premises used by the board or during the employee’s working hours for the board.

(21) The chairperson shall report any action he or she has taken or proposes to take under this section with respect to an employee or agent or former employee or former agent to the board at the next meeting of the board. The board may direct the executive director to take additional or different action.

(22) Except as allowed under the Michigan medical marihuana act, a member, employee, or agent of the board shall not enter into any personal transaction involving marihuana with a licensee or applicant.

(23) If a licensee or applicant, or an affiliate or representative of a licensee or applicant, violates this section, the board may deny a license application, revoke or suspend a license, or take other disciplinary action as provided in section 407.

(24) Violation of this section by a member of the board may result in disqualification or constitute cause for removal under section 301(7) or other disciplinary action as recommended by the board to the governor.

(25) A violation of this section by an employee or agent of the board need not result in termination of employment if the board determines that the conduct involved does not violate the purpose of this act. However, all of the following apply:

(a) If, after being offered employment or beginning employment with the board, the employee or agent intentionally acquires a financial interest in a licensee or an applicant, or an affiliate or representative of a licensee or applicant, the offer or employment with the board shall be terminated.

(b) If a financial interest in a licensee or an applicant, or an affiliate or representative of a licensee or applicant, is acquired by an employee or agent that has been offered employment with the board, an employee of the board, or the employee’s or agent’s spouse, parent, or child, through no intentional action of the employee or agent, the individual shall have up to 30 days to divest or terminate the financial interest. Employment may be terminated if the interest has not been divested after 30 days.

(c) Employment shall be terminated if the employee or agent is a spouse, parent, child, or spouse of a child of a board member.

(26) Violation of this section does not create a civil cause of action.

(27) As used in this section:

(a) “Outside employment”, in addition to employment by a third party, includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) Operation of a proprietorship.

(ii) Participation in a partnership or group business enterprise.

(iii) Performance as a director or corporate officer of any for-profit or nonprofit corporation or banking or credit institution.

(iv) Performance as a manager of a limited liability company.

(b) “Political activity” or “politically related activity” includes all of the following:

(i) Using his or her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.

(ii) Knowingly soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution from any person.EHB 4209

(iii) Running for the nomination or as a candidate for election to a partisan political office.

(iv) Knowingly soliciting or discouraging the participation in any political activity of any person who is either of the following:

(A) Applying for any compensation, grant, contract, ruling, license, permit, or certificate pending before the board.

(B) The subject of or a participant in an ongoing audit, investigation, or enforcement action being carried out by the board.

PART 4. LICENSING

Sec. 401. (1) Beginning 360 days after the effective date of this act, a person may apply to the board for state operating licenses in the categories of class A, B, or C grower; processor; provisioning center; secure transporter; and safety compliance facility as provided in this act. The application shall be made under oath on a form provided by the board and shall contain information as prescribed by the board, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) The name, business address, business telephone number, social security number, and, if applicable, federal tax identification number of the applicant.

(b) The identity of every person having any ownership interest in the applicant with respect to which the license is sought. If the disclosed entity is a trust, the application shall disclose the names and addresses of the beneficiaries; if a corporation, the names and addresses of all shareholders, officers, and directors; if a partnership or limited liability partnership, the names and addresses of all partners; if a limited partnership or limited liability limited partnership, the names of all partners, both general and limited; or if a limited liability company, the names and addresses of all members and managers.

(c) An identification of any business that is directly or indirectly involved in the growing, processing, testing, transporting, or sale of marihuana, including, if applicable, the state of incorporation or registration, in which an applicant or, if the applicant is an individual, the applicant’s spouse, parent, or child has any equity interest. If an applicant is a corporation, partnership, or other business entity, the applicant shall identify any other corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is directly or indirectly involved in the growing, processing, testing, transporting, or sale of marihuana in which it has any equity interest, including, if applicable, the state of incorporation or registration. An applicant may comply with this subdivision by filing a copy of the applicant’s registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission if the registration contains the information required by this subdivision.

(d) Whether an applicant has been indicted for, charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, forfeited bail concerning any criminal offense under the laws of any jurisdiction, either felony or controlled-substance-related misdemeanor, not including traffic violations, regardless of whether the offense has been reversed on appeal or otherwise, including the date, the name and location of the court, arresting agency, and prosecuting agency, the case caption, the docket number, the offense, the disposition, and the location and length of incarceration.

(e) Whether an applicant has ever applied for or has been granted any commercial license or certificate issued by a licensing authority in Michigan or any other jurisdiction that has been denied, restricted, suspended, revoked, or not renewed and a statement describing the facts and circumstances concerning the application, denial, restriction, suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal, including the licensing authority, the date each action was taken, and the reason for each action.

(f) Whether an applicant has filed, or been served with, a complaint or other notice filed with any public body, regarding the delinquency in the payment of, or a dispute over the filings concerning the payment of, any tax required under federal, state, or local law, including the amount, type of tax, taxing agency, and time periods involved.

(g) A statement listing the names and titles of all public officials or officers of any unit of government, and the spouses, parents, and children of those public officials or officers, who, directly or indirectly, own any financial interest in, have any beneficial interest in, are the creditors of or hold any debt instrument issued by, or hold or have any interest in any contractual or service relationship with an applicant. As used in this subdivision, public official or officer does not include a person who would have to be listed solely because of his or her state or federal military service.

(h) A description of the type of marihuana facility; anticipated or actual number of employees; and projected or actual gross receipts.

(i) Financial information in the manner and form prescribed by the board.

(j) A paper copy or electronic posting website reference for the ordinance or zoning restriction that the municipality adopted to authorize or restrict operation of 1 or more marihuana facilities in the municipality.

(k) A copy of the notice informing the municipality by registered mail that the applicant has applied for a license under this act. The applicant shall also certify that it has delivered the notice to the municipality or will do so by 10 days after the date the applicant submits the application for a license to the board.

(l) Any other information the department requires by rule.EHB 4209

(2) The board shall use information provided on the application as a basis to conduct a thorough background investigation on the applicant. A false application is cause for the board to deny a license. The board shall not consider an incomplete application but shall, within a reasonable time, return the application to the applicant with notification of the deficiency and instructions for submitting a corrected application. Information the board obtains from the background investigation is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(3) An applicant must provide written consent to the inspections, examinations, searches, and seizures provided for in section 303(1)(c)(i) to (iv) and to disclosure to the board and its agents of otherwise confidential records, including tax records held by any federal, state, or local agency, or credit bureau or financial institution, while applying for or holding a license. Information the board receives under this subsection is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(4) An applicant must certify that the applicant does not have an interest in any other state operating license that is prohibited under this act.

(5) A nonrefundable application fee must be paid at the time of filing to defray the costs associated with the background investigation conducted by the board. The department in consultation with the board shall set the amount of the application fee for each category and class of license by rule. If the costs of the investigation and processing the application exceed the application fee, the applicant shall pay the additional amount to the board. All information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data supplied to or used by the board in the course of its review or investigation of an application for a license under this act shall be disclosed only in accordance with this act. The information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data are not admissible as evidence or discoverable in any action of any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board, agency, or person, except for any action considered necessary by the board.

(6) By 10 days after the date the applicant submits an application to the board, the applicant shall notify the municipality by registered mail that it has applied for a license under this act.

Sec. 402. (1) The board shall issue a license to an applicant who submits a complete application and pays both the nonrefundable application fee required under section 401(5) and the regulatory assessment established by the board for the first year of operation, if the board determines that the applicant is qualified to receive a license under this act.

(2) An applicant is ineligible to receive a license if any of the following circumstances exist:

(a) The applicant has been convicted of or released from incarceration for a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States within the past 10 years or has been convicted of a controlled substance-related felony within the past 10 years.

(b) Within the past 5 years the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving a controlled substance, theft, dishonesty, or fraud in any state or been found responsible for violating a local ordinance in any state involving a controlled substance, dishonesty, theft, or fraud that substantially corresponds to a misdemeanor in that state.

(d) The applicant is a member of the board.

(e) The applicant fails to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to maintain adequate premises liability and casualty insurance for its proposed marihuana facility.

(f) The applicant holds an elective office of a governmental unit of this state, another state, or the federal government; is a member of or employed by a regulatory body of a governmental unit in this state, another state, or the federal government; or is employed by a governmental unit of this state. This subdivision does not apply to an elected officer of or employee of a federally recognized Indian tribe or to an elected precinct delegate.

(g) The applicant, if an individual, has been a resident of this state for less than a continuous 2-year period immediately preceding the date of filing the application. The requirements in this subdivision do not apply after June 30, 2018.

(h) The board determines that the applicant is not in compliance with section 205(1).

(i) The applicant fails to meet other criteria established by rule.

(3) In determining whether to grant a license to an applicant, the board may also consider all of the following:

(a) The integrity, moral character, and reputation; personal and business probity; financial ability and experience; and responsibility or means to operate or maintain a marihuana facility of the applicant and of any other person that either:

(i) Controls, directly or indirectly, the applicant.

(ii) Is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the applicant or by a person who controls, directly or indirectly, the applicant.

(b) The financial ability of the applicant to purchase and maintain adequate liability and casualty insurance.

(c) The sources and total amount of the applicant’s capitalization to operate and maintain the proposed marihuana facility.EHB 4209

(d) Whether the applicant has been indicted for, charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, forfeited bail concerning, or had expunged any relevant criminal offense under the laws of any jurisdiction, either felony or misdemeanor, not including traffic violations, regardless of whether the offense has been expunged, pardoned, or reversed on appeal or otherwise.

(e) Whether the applicant has filed, or had filed against it, a proceeding for bankruptcy within the past 7 years.

(f) Whether the applicant has been served with a complaint or other notice filed with any public body regarding payment of any tax required under federal, state, or local law that has been delinquent for 1 or more years.

(g) Whether the applicant has a history of noncompliance with any regulatory requirements in this state or any other jurisdiction.

(h) Whether at the time of application the applicant is a defendant in litigation involving its business practices.

(i) Whether the applicant meets other standards in rules applicable to the license category.

(4) Each applicant shall submit with its application, on forms provided by the board, a passport quality photograph and 1 set of fingerprints for each person having any ownership interest in the marihuana facility and each person who is an officer, director, or managerial employee of the applicant. The department may designate an entity or agent to collect the fingerprints, and the applicant is responsible for the cost associated with the fingerprint collection.

(5) The board shall review all applications for licenses and shall inform each applicant of the board’s decision.

(6) A license shall be issued for a 1-year period and is renewable annually. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the board shall renew a license if all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The licensee applies to the board on a renewal form provided by the board that requires information prescribed in rules.

(b) The application is received by the board on or before the expiration date of the current license.

(d) The licensee meets the requirements of this act and any other renewal requirements set forth in rules.

(7) The department shall notify the licensee by mail or electronic mail at the last known address on file with the board advising of the time, procedure, and regulatory assessment under section 603. The failure of the licensee to receive notice under this subsection does not relieve the licensee of the responsibility for renewing the license.

(8) If a license renewal application is not submitted by the license expiration date, the license may be renewed within 60 days after its expiration date upon application, payment of the regulatory assessment under section 603, and satisfaction of any renewal requirement and late fee set forth in rules. The licensee may continue to operate during the 60 days after the license expiration date if the license is renewed by the end of the 60-day period.

(9) License expiration does not terminate the board’s authority to impose sanctions on a licensee whose license has expired.

(10) In its decision on an application for renewal, the board shall consider any specific written input it receives from an individual or entity within the local unit of government in which the applicant for renewal is located.

(11) A licensee must consent in writing to inspections, examinations, searches, and seizures that are permitted under this act and must provide a handwriting exemplar, fingerprints, photographs, and information as authorized in this act or by rules.

(12) An applicant or licensee has a continuing duty to provide information requested by the board and to cooperate in any investigation, inquiry, or hearing conducted by the board.

Sec. 403. If the board identifies a deficiency in an application, the board shall provide the applicant with a reasonable period of time to correct the deficiency.

Sec. 404. (1) The board shall issue a license only in the name of the true party of interest.

(2) For the following true parties of interest, information concerning the indicated individuals must be included in the disclosures required of an applicant or licensee:

(a) For an individual or sole proprietorship: the proprietor and spouse.

(b) For a partnership and limited liability partnership: all partners and their spouses. For a limited partnership and limited liability limited partnership: all general and limited partners and their spouses. For a limited liability company: all members, managers, and their spouses.

(c) For a privately held corporation: all corporate officers or persons with equivalent titles and their spouses and all stockholders and their spouses.

(d) For a publicly held corporation: all corporate officers or persons with equivalent titles and their spouses.

(e) For a multilevel ownership enterprise: any entity or person that receives or has the right to receive a percentage of the gross or net profit from the enterprise during any full or partial calendar or fiscal year.

(f) For a nonprofit corporation: all individuals and entities with membership or shareholder rights in accordance with the articles of incorporation or the bylaws and their spouses.EHB 4209

(3) For purposes of this section, “true party of interest” does not mean:

(a) A person or entity receiving reasonable payment for rent on a fixed basis under a bona fide lease or rental obligation, unless the lessor or property manager exercises control over or participates in the management of the business.

(b) A person who receives a bonus as an employee if the employee is on a fixed wage or salary and the bonus is not more than 25% of the employee’s prebonus annual compensation or if the bonus is based on a written incentive/bonus program that is not out of the ordinary for the services rendered.

Sec. 405. Subject to the laws of this state, before hiring a prospective employee, the holder of a license shall conduct a background check of the prospective employee. If the background check indicates a pending charge or conviction within the past 10 years for a controlled substance-related felony, a licensee shall not hire the prospective employee without written permission of the board.

Sec. 406. Each license is exclusive to the licensee, and a licensee or any other person must apply for and receive the board’s approval before a license is transferred, sold, or purchased. The attempted transfer, sale, or other conveyance of an interest of more than 1% in a license without prior board approval is grounds for suspension or revocation of the license or for other sanction considered appropriate by the board.

Sec. 407. (1) If an applicant or licensee fails to comply with this act or rules, if a licensee fails to comply with the marihuana tracking act, if a licensee no longer meets the eligibility requirements for a license under this act, or if an applicant or licensee fails to provide information the board requests to assist in any investigation, inquiry, or board hearing, the board may deny, suspend, revoke, or restrict a license. The board may suspend, revoke, or restrict a license and require the removal of a licensee or an employee of a licensee for a violation of this act, rules, the marihuana tracking act, or any ordinance adopted under section 205. The board may impose civil fines of up to $5,000.00 against an individual and up to $10,000.00 or an amount equal to the daily gross receipts, whichever is greater, against a licensee for each violation of this act, rules, or an order of the board. Assessment of a civil fine under this subsection is not a bar to the investigation, arrest, charging, or prosecution of an individual for any other violation of this act and is not grounds to suppress evidence in any criminal prosecution that arises under this act or any other law of this state.

(2) The board shall comply with the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, when denying, revoking, suspending, or restricting a license or imposing a fine. The board may suspend a license without notice or hearing upon a determination that the safety or health of patrons or employees is jeopardized by continuing a marihuana facility’s operation. If the board suspends a license under this subsection without notice or hearing, a prompt postsuspension hearing must be held to determine if the suspension should remain in effect. The suspension may remain in effect until the board determines that the cause for suspension has been abated. The board may revoke the license or approve a transfer or sale of the license upon a determination that the licensee has not made satisfactory progress toward abating the hazard.

(3) After denying an application for a license, the board shall, upon request, provide a public investigative hearing at which the applicant is given the opportunity to present testimony and evidence to establish its suitability for a license. Other testimony and evidence may be presented at the hearing, but the board’s decision must be based on the whole record before the board and is not limited to testimony and evidence submitted at the public investigative hearing.

(4) Except for license applicants who may be granted a hearing at the discretion of the board under subsection (3), any party aggrieved by an action of the board suspending, revoking, restricting, or refusing to renew a license, or imposing a fine, shall be given a hearing before the board upon request. A request for a hearing must be made to the board in writing within 21 days after service of notice of the action of the board. Notice of the action of the board must be served either by personal delivery or by certified mail, postage prepaid, to the aggrieved party. Notice served by certified mail is considered complete on the business day following the date of the mailing.

(5) The board may conduct investigative and contested case hearings; issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses; issue subpoenas duces tecum for the production of books, ledgers, records, memoranda, electronically retrievable data, and other pertinent documents; and administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses as appropriate to exercise and discharge the powers and duties of the board under this act. The executive director or his or her designee may issue subpoenas and administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses.

Sec. 408. (1) Before the board grants or renews any license under this act, the licensee or applicant shall file with the department proof of financial responsibility for liability for bodily injury to lawful users resulting from the manufacture, distribution, transportation, or sale of adulterated marihuana or adulterated marihuana-infused product in an amount not less than $100,000.00. The proof of financial responsibility may be in the form of cash, unencumbered securities, a liability insurance policy, or a constant value bond executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state. As used in this section:

(a) “Adulterated marihuana” means a product sold as marihuana that contains any unintended substance or chemical or biological matter other than marihuana that causes adverse reaction after ingestion or consumption.EHB 4209

(b) “Bodily injury” does not include expected or intended effect or long-term adverse effect of smoking, ingestion, or consumption of marihuana or marihuana-infused product.

(2) An insured licensee shall not cancel liability insurance required under this section unless the licensee complies with both of the following:

(a) Gives 30 days’ prior written notice to the department.

(b) Procures new proof of financial responsibility required under this section and delivers that proof to the department within 30 days after giving the department the notice under subdivision (a).

Sec. 409. A state operating license is a revocable privilege granted by this state and is not a property right. Granting a license does not create or vest any right, title, franchise, or other property interest. Each license is exclusive to the licensee, and a licensee or any other person must apply for and receive the board’s and municipality’s approval before a license is transferred, sold, or purchased. A licensee or any other person shall not lease, pledge, or borrow or loan money against a license. The attempted transfer, sale, or other conveyance of an interest in a license without prior board approval is grounds for suspension or revocation of the license or for other sanction considered appropriate by the board.

PART 5. LICENSEES

Sec. 501. (1) A grower license authorizes the grower to grow not more than the following number of marihuana plants under the indicated license class for each license the grower holds in that class:

(a) Class A – 500 marihuana plants.

(b) Class B – 1,000 marihuana plants.

(2) A grower license authorizes sale of marihuana seeds or marihuana plants only to a grower by means of a secure transporter.

(3) A grower license authorizes sale of marihuana, other than seeds, only to a processor or provisioning center.

(4) A grower license authorizes the grower to transfer marihuana only by means of a secure transporter.

(5) To be eligible for a grower license, the applicant and each investor in the grower must not have an interest in a secure transporter or safety compliance facility.

(6) A grower shall comply with all of the following:

(a) Until December 31, 2021, have, or have as an active employee an individual who has, a minimum of 2 years’ experience as a registered primary caregiver.

(b) While holding a license as a grower, not be a registered primary caregiver and not employ an individual who is simultaneously a registered primary caregiver.

(c) Enter all transactions, current inventory, and other information into the statewide monitoring system as required in this act, rules, and the marihuana tracking act.

(7) A grower license does not authorize the grower to operate in an area unless the area is zoned for industrial or agricultural uses or is unzoned and otherwise meets the requirements established in section 205(1).

Sec. 502. (1) A processor license authorizes purchase of marihuana only from a grower and sale of marihuana-infused products or marihuana only to a provisioning center.

(2) A processor license authorizes the processor to transfer marihuana only by means of a secure transporter.

(3) To be eligible for a processor license, the applicant and each investor in the processor must not have an interest in a secure transporter or safety compliance facility.

(4) A processor shall comply with all of the following:

(a) Until December 31, 2021, have, or have as an active employee an individual who has, a minimum of 2 years’ experience as a registered primary caregiver.

(b) While holding a license as a processor, not be a registered primary caregiver and not employ an individual who is simultaneously a registered primary caregiver.

(c) Enter all transactions, current inventory, and other information into the statewide monitoring system as required in this act, rules, and the marihuana tracking act.

Sec. 503. (1) A secure transporter license authorizes the licensee to store and transport marihuana and money associated with the purchase or sale of marihuana between marihuana facilities for a fee upon request of a person with legal custody of that marihuana or money. It does not authorize transport to a registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver.

(2) To be eligible for a secure transporter license, the applicant and each investor with an interest in the secure transporter must not have an interest in a grower, processor, provisioning center, or safety compliance facility and must not be a registered qualifying patient or a registered primary caregiver.

(3) A secure transporter shall enter all transactions, current inventory, and other information into the statewide monitoring system as required in this act, rules, and the marihuana tracking act.

(4) A secure transporter shall comply with all of the following:

(a) Each driver transporting marihuana must have a chauffeur’s license issued by this state.

(b) Each employee who has custody of marihuana or money that is related to a marihuana transaction shall not have been convicted of or released from incarceration for a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States within the past 5 years or have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving a controlled substance within the past 5 years.

(c) Each vehicle shall be operated with a 2-person crew with at least 1 individual remaining with the vehicle at all times during the transportation of marihuana.

(d) A route plan and manifest shall be entered into the statewide monitoring system, and a copy shall be carried in the transporting vehicle and presented to a law enforcement officer upon request.

(e) The marihuana shall be transported in 1 or more sealed containers and not be accessible while in transit.

(f) A secure transporting vehicle shall not bear markings or other indication that it is carrying marihuana or a marihuana-infused product.

(5) A secure transporter is subject to administrative inspection by a law enforcement officer at any point during the transportation of marihuana to determine compliance with this act.

Sec. 504. (1) A provisioning center license authorizes the purchase or transfer of marihuana only from a grower or processor and sale or transfer to only a registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver. All transfers of marihuana to a provisioning center from a separate marihuana facility shall be by means of a secure transporter.

(2) A provisioning center license authorizes the provisioning center to transfer marihuana to or from a safety compliance facility for testing by means of a secure transporter.

(3) To be eligible for a provisioning center license, the applicant and each investor in the provisioning center must not have an interest in a secure transporter or safety compliance facility.

(4) A provisioning center shall comply with all of the following:

(a) Sell or transfer marihuana to a registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver only after it has been tested and bears the label required for retail sale.

(b) Enter all transactions, current inventory, and other information into the statewide monitoring system as required in this act, rules, and the marihuana tracking act.

(c) Before selling or transferring marihuana to a registered qualifying patient or to a registered primary caregiver on behalf of a registered qualifying patient, inquire of the statewide monitoring system to determine whether the patient and, if applicable, the caregiver hold a valid, current, unexpired, and unrevoked registry identification card and that the sale or transfer will not exceed the daily purchasing limit established by the medical marihuana licensing board under this act.

(d) Not allow the sale, consumption, or use of alcohol or tobacco products on the premises.

(e) Not allow a physician to conduct a medical examination or issue a medical certification document on the premises for the purpose of obtaining a registry identification card.

Sec. 505. (1) In addition to transfer and testing authorized in section 203, a safety compliance facility license authorizes the facility to receive marihuana from, test marihuana for, and return marihuana to only a marihuana facility.

(2) A safety compliance facility must be accredited by an entity approved by the board by 1 year after the date the license is issued or have previously provided drug testing services to this state or this state’s court system and be a vendor in good standing in regard to those services. The board may grant a variance from this requirement upon a finding that the variance is necessary to protect and preserve the public health, safety, or welfare.

(3) To be eligible for a safety compliance facility license, the applicant and each investor with any interest in the safety compliance facility must not have an interest in a grower, secure transporter, processor, or provisioning center.

(4) A safety compliance facility shall comply with all of the following:

(a) Perform tests to certify that marihuana is reasonably free of chemical residues such as fungicides and insecticides.

(b) Use validated test methods to determine tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol acid, cannabidiol, and cannabidiol acid levels.

(c) Perform tests that determine whether marihuana complies with the standards the board establishes for microbial and mycotoxin contents.

(d) Perform other tests necessary to determine compliance with any other good manufacturing practices as prescribed in rules.

(e) Enter all transactions, current inventory, and other information into the statewide monitoring system as required in this act, rules, and the marihuana tracking act.EHB 4209

(f) Have a secured laboratory space that cannot be accessed by the general public.

(g) Retain and employ at least 1 staff member with a relevant advanced degree in a medical or laboratory science.

PART 6. TAXES AND FEES

Sec. 601. (1) A tax is imposed on each provisioning center at the rate of 3% of the provisioning center’s gross retail receipts. By 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter, a provisioning center shall remit the tax for the preceding calendar quarter to the department of treasury accompanied by a form prescribed by the department of treasury that shows the gross quarterly retail income of the provisioning center and the amount of tax due, and shall submit a copy of the form to the department. If a law authorizing the recreational or nonmedical use of marihuana in this state is enacted, this section does not apply beginning 90 days after the effective date of that law.

(2) The taxes imposed under this section shall be administered by the department of treasury in accordance with 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and this act. In case of conflict between the provisions of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and this act, the provisions of this act prevail.

Sec. 602. (1) The medical marihuana excise fund is created in the state treasury.

(2) Except for the application fee under section 401, the regulatory assessment under section 603, and any local licensing fees, all money collected under section 601 and all other fees, fines, and charges, imposed under this act shall be deposited in the medical marihuana excise fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.

(3) Money in the medical marihuana excise fund at the close of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

(4) The state treasurer shall be the administrator of the medical marihuana excise fund for auditing purposes.

(5) The money in the medical marihuana excise fund shall be allocated, upon appropriation, as follows:

(a) 25% to municipalities in which a marihuana facility is located, allocated in proportion to the number of marihuana facilities within the municipality.

(b) 30% to counties in which a marihuana facility is located, allocated in proportion to the number of marihuana facilities within the county.

(c) 5% to counties in which a marihuana facility is located, allocated in proportion to the number of marihuana facilities within the county. Money allocated under this subdivision shall be used exclusively to support the county sheriffs and shall be in addition to and not in replacement of any other funding received by the county sheriffs.

(d) 30% to this state for the following:

(i) Until September 30, 2017, for deposit in the general fund of the state treasury.

(ii) Beginning October 1, 2017, for deposit in the first responder presumed coverage fund created in section 405 of the worker’s disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.405.

(e) 5% to the Michigan commission on law enforcement standards for training local law enforcement officers.

(f) 5% to the department of state police.

Sec. 603. (1) A regulatory assessment is imposed on certain licensees as provided in this section. All of the following shall be included in establishing the total amount of the regulatory assessment established under this section:

(a) The department’s costs to implement, administer, and enforce this act, except for the costs to process and investigate applications for licenses supported with the application fee described in section 401.

(b) Expenses of medical-marihuana-related legal services provided to the department by the department of attorney general.

(d) Expenses of medical-marihuana-related services provided by the department of treasury.

(e) $500,000.00 to be allocated to the department for expenditures of the department for licensing substance use disorder programs.

(f) An amount equal to 5% of the sum of the amounts provided for under subdivisions (a) to (d) to be allocated to the department of health and human services for substance-abuse-related expenditures including, but not limited to, substance use disorder prevention, education, and treatment programs.

(g) Expenses related to the standardized field sobriety tests administered in enforcing the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923.

(h) An amount sufficient to provide for the administrative costs of the Michigan commission on law enforcement standards.

(2) The regulatory assessment is in addition to the application fee described in section 401, the tax described in section 601, and any local licensing fees.EHB 4209

(3) The regulatory assessment shall be collected annually from licensed growers, processors, provisioning centers, and secure transporters. The regulatory assessment for a class A grower license shall not exceed $10,000.00.

(4) Beginning in the first year marihuana facilities are authorized to operate in this state, and annually thereafter, the department, in consultation with the board, shall establish the total regulatory assessment at an amount that is estimated to be sufficient to cover the actual costs and support the expenditures listed in subsection (1).

(5) On or before the date the licensee begins operating and annually thereafter, each grower, processor, provisioning center, and secure transporter shall pay to the state treasurer an amount determined by the department to reasonably reflect the licensee’s share of the total regulatory assessment established under subsection (4).

Sec. 604. (1) The marihuana regulatory fund is created in the state treasury.

(2) The application fee collected under section 401 and the regulatory assessment collected under section 603 shall be deposited in the marihuana regulatory fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.

(3) Money in the marihuana regulatory fund at the close of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.

(4) The department shall be the administrator of the marihuana regulatory fund for auditing purposes.

(5) Except as provided in section 603(1)(d) and (e), the department shall expend money from the marihuana regulatory fund, upon appropriation, only for implementing, administering, and enforcing this act.

Sec. 605. The department may use any money appropriated to it from the marihuana registry fund created in section 6 of the Michigan medical marihuana act, 2008 IL 1, MCL 333.26426, for the purpose of funding the operations of the department and the board in the initial implementation and subsequent administration and enforcement of this act.

PART 7. REPORTS

Sec. 701. By 30 days after the end of each state fiscal year, each licensee shall transmit to the board and to the municipality financial statements of the licensee’s total operations. The financial statements shall be reviewed by a certified public accountant in a manner and form prescribed by the board. The certified public accountant must be licensed in this state under article 7 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.720 to 339.736. The compensation for the certified public accountant shall be paid directly by the licensee to the certified public accountant.

Sec. 702. The board shall submit with the annual report to the governor under section 302(k) and to the chairs of the legislative committees that govern issues related to marihuana facilities a report covering the previous year. The report shall include an account of the board actions, its financial position, results of operation under this act, and any recommendations for legislation that the board considers advisable.

PART 8. MARIHUANA ADVISORY PANEL

Sec. 801. (1) The marihuana advisory panel is created within the department.

(2) The marihuana advisory panel shall consist of 17 members, including the director of state police or his or her designee, the director of this state’s department of health and human services or his or her designee, the director of the department of licensing and regulatory affairs or his or her designee, the attorney general or his or her designee, the director of the department of agriculture and rural development or his or her designee, and the following members appointed by the governor:

(a) One registered medical marihuana patient or medical marihuana primary caregiver.

(b) One representative of growers.

(d) One representative of provisioning centers.

(e) One representative of safety compliance facilities.

(f) One representative of townships.

(g) One representative of cities and villages.

(h) One representative of counties.

(i) One representative of sheriffs.

(j) One representative of local police.

(k) One physician licensed under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838.

(l) One representative of a secure transporter.EHB 4209

(3) The members first appointed to the panel shall be appointed within 3 months after the effective date of this act and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Appointed members of the panel shall serve for terms of 3 years or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later.

(4) If a vacancy occurs on the advisory panel, the governor shall make an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

(5) The first meeting of the panel shall be called by the director of the department or his or her designee within 1 month after the advisory panel is appointed. At the first meeting, the panel shall elect from among its members a chairperson and any other officers it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the panel shall meet at least 2 times each year, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson.

(6) A majority of the members of the panel constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the panel.

(7) The business that the panel performs shall be conducted at a public meeting held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(8) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the panel in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(9) Members of the panel shall serve without compensation. However, members of the panel may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the panel.

(10) The panel may make recommendations to the board concerning promulgation of rules and, as requested by the board or the department, the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this act and the marihuana tracking act.

(11) State departments and agencies shall cooperate with the panel and, upon request, provide it with meeting space and other necessary resources to assist it in the performance of its duties.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.

Enacting section 2. The legislature finds that the necessity for access to safe sources of marihuana for medical use and the immediate need for growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers, and safety compliance facilities to operate under clear requirements establish the need to promulgate emergency rules to preserve the public health, safety, or welfare.

Enacting section 3. This act does not take effect unless House Bill No. 4827 of the 98th Legislature is enacted into law.

STATE OF MICHIGAN – 98TH LEGISLATURE – REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

Introduced by Reps. Callton, Kivela, Howrylak, Durhal, Lyons, Pettalia, Hovey-Wright, Dianda, Chang, Neeley, Irwin, Pscholka, Bumstead, Yonker, Canfield, Kelly, Lucido, Maturen, Schor, Brinks, Faris, Banks, Byrd, Garrett, Gay-Dagnogo, Hoadley, Kesto, Kosowski, LaVoy, Love, Phelps, Potvin, Robinson, Runestad, Singh, Tedder and Webber

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Michigan Medical Marihuana Laws are constantly changing. Please Research New Laws and Updates
Go Here for Updates and Link to Current MMA Laws
Link to Current Registry Information
Link to MMMA Act and Updates via LARA (State of Michigan)

New Roadside Drug Test

Aug 6, 2016 | Blog, Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Komorn, Marijuana Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Komorn, Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, News

What is the law?

The Michigan legislature has passed into law a one-year pilot program set up in five counties that allows for Michigan State Police to perform roadside drug tests. The way this will work is if a driver gets pulled over for a traffic offense, in one of the five counties that are yet to be determined and shows signs of being under the influence of drugs the specially trained “drug recognition expert” will be able to conduct a field sobriety test. After which, the officer will be able to use the new saliva-based testing to check and see whether the driver has consumed marijuana, heroin, or cocaine.

– Can you say DNA collection?-

What the purpose is?

The officials in charge of pushing through this policy cite the reasoning being that there has been a large increase recently of drugged driving accidents and drugged driving fatalities. The addition of this test to the already used field sobriety testing is intended as means to provide further probable cause to establish the grounds for a lawful arrest.

Additional arrests leads to additional fines and penalties that the police are able to collect from its citizens.

– Can you say More Money?-

What is the science behind this test?

https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/EvaluationOfDriversInRelationToPerSeReport.pdf

In a study performed by AAA’s safety foundation, it was determined that it is impossible to set a blood-test threshold for THC. The test states:

There is no evidence from the data collected, particularly from the subjects assessed through the DRE exam, that any objective threshold exists that established impairment, based on THC concentrations measured in specimens collected from cannabis-positive subjects placed under arrest for impaired driving. An association between the presence and degree of indicators of impairment or effect from cannabis use were evident when comparing data from cannabis-positive and cannabis-negative subjects. However, when examining differences in performance in these parameters between subjects with high (>5 2 ng/mL) and low (<5 ng/mL) THC concentrations, minimal differences were found.

Setting any sort of legal limit or per se limit for cannabis and driving are arbitrary and unsupported by science.

Furthermore, in a study done by Forensic Fluids Laboratory the window of time during which a swab test can pick up a THC positive test is up to as long as 3 days. Even though someone may still have THC in their system 3 days after consuming Cannabis, the likelihood that they are still intoxicated is extremely unlikely.

As a result of the probable cause that can be gained from this swab test an officer has the ability to issue an arrest warrant based on evidence that is not providing any scientific proof of the driver current intoxication, but based on its result creates an extremely misleading affidavit.

Crime labs ‘bend science’ to strip medical marijuana rights, lawsuit says

Jun 24, 2016 | Blog, Forfeiture, Medical Marijuana Attorney Michael Komorn, Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, News, Recent Victories

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – State police crime labs intentionally misrepresent marijuana oil and edibles as having unknown origins, a tactic that can turn a misdemeanor possession charge into a felony and remove protections for Michigan’s medical marijuana users, a federal lawsuit claims.

Maxwell Lorincz of Spring Lake and three others from the east side of Michigan are seeking class-action status in a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Detroit against state police Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue and Inspector Scott Marier, interim director of the Forensic Science Division.

They allege the state police Forensic Division, in concert with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Association of Michigan, or PAAM, established a policy to report marijuana-based edibles and oils as, at least potentially, having an unknown origin if no visible plant material is present.

The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, could then be declared a synthetic substance.

“At least one reason for the policy change was to better establish probable cause to arrest medical marijuana patients, obtain forfeiture of their assets, charge them with crimes they did not commit, and to allow felony charges against others for what is at most a misdemeanor,” Farmington Hills attorney Michael Komorn said in the lawsuit.

State police would not comment with legal action pending, spokeswoman Shanon Banner said.

‘No conspiracy,’ prosecutor says of medical marijuana patient’s charge

GRAND HAVEN, MI — The Ottawa County prosecutor says he is not out to overcharge Michigan Medical Marijuana Act cardholders who run afoul of state law. Prosecutor Ron Frantz offered the comments as he responded to criticism about a felony charge against a Spring Lake man who holds a medical marijuana card. Max Lorincz is charged with possession of…

The lawsuit also names Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and his forensic sciences lab commander as defendants for also allegedly designating oils and edibles as Schedule 1 THC, without any qualification as to its origin.

Undersheriff Michael McCabe, who reviewed the lawsuit that has yet to be served, said the sheriff’s laboratory has received high marks and was recently re-accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

“Our testing procedures are above and beyond reproach,” he told The Grand Rapids Press and MLive.

“As far as we’re concerned, the lawsuit, in regards to Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, it’s garbage.”

He said his agency has not talked to state police or the prosecutors’ association – or the Oakland County prosecutor – about its procedures.

“We report the test results,” he said. “Charging decisions are made by the prosecutor’s office independently.”

Lorincz, a medical-marijuana patient, is joined in the lawsuit by Oakland County residents Brandon Shoebe, a licensed medical marijuana caregiver, and Cantrell Carruthers, a licensed caregiver and patient, and Livingston County resident Jason Poe, a licensed patient.

The lawsuit focuses primarily on Lorincz’s case. He was arrested last year after police found residue of oil extracted from marijuana while responding to a medical call at his northern Ottawa County home. Lorincz presented his medical-marijuana documentation, but the sample was sent to a crime lab in Grand Rapids for testing.

Max Lorincz is charged with a two-year felony.

Lorincz was charged with possession of marijuana. He insisted he had immunity. He says prosecutors threatened to charge him with a felony of possession of synthetic THC, and did just that when he refused to plead to the misdemeanor.

A Forensic Division scientist testified he could not tell if the THC sample came from a plant or was synthetic.

Prosecutors argued that the charge was appropriate because crime lab workers determined the origin of the THC sample was unknown because no plant material was present.

Ottawa County Circuit Judge Ed Post dismissed the case.

Prosecutor Ronald Frantz wrote then: “The court’s decision turned on definitions and statutory language that we believed supported the charge as written. The District Court judge found our interpretation to be correct, Circuit Judge Post disagreed and ruled otherwise. … We believe the increasing prevalence of extremely high potency marijuana-based and synthetic-based drugs is reason to update and clarify our statutes.”

Maxwell, who lost custody of his young son for a time, did not see his troubles end.

“Maxwell and the approximately 200,000 other participants in the (medical marijuana program) face the prospect of being wrongly detained, searched, and prosecuted as a result of the Forensic Division’s official reporting policy regarding marijuana,” Komorn wrote.

“Indeed, the rights of numerous other Michigan citizens are endangered by this policy of reporting false felonies.”

He said the state police crime lab’s own results of the substance in Maxwell’s case showed it to be plant-based.

Komorn said that state police documents obtained under Freedom of Information Act requests showed “a concerted action by Forensic Division, PAAM, and law enforcement to ignore the law and bend the science so as to report all marijuana oils and solids that do not contain visible plant matter as potentially Schedule 1 synthetic THC … .

“In fact, the Forensic Division actually changed its lab manual to require this result from its scientists. This change was made in an attempt to strip medical marijuana patients of their rights and immunities, charge or threaten to charge citizens with greater crimes than they might have committed, obtain plea deals, and increase proceeds from drug forfeiture.”

He said that a crime lab scientist wrote “that ‘it is highly doubtful that any of these (medical marijuana) products we are seeing have THC that was synthesized.”

Komorn said it makes no sense that anyone would try to synthesize THC given the ease of obtaining it from marijuana.

He said that Bradley Choate, a supervisor at the Lansing lab, objected to THC being labeled as potentially synthetic if plant material wasn’t found. Choate wrote in an email that such a designation “would lead a prosecutor to the synthetic portion of the law. …

“This could lead to the wrong charge of possession of synthetic THC and the ultimate wrongful conviction of an individual.

“For the laboratory to contribute to this possible miscarriage of justice would be a huge black eye for the division and the department.”

John Agar covers crime and other issues for MLiveE-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar

6/24/16

If you or someone you know is facing charges as a result of Medical Marijuana recommended to you as a medical marijuana patient under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, contact Komorn Law and ensure your rights are protected. Michael Komorn is recognized as a leading expert on the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. He is the President of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association (MMMA), a nonprofit patient advocacy group which advocates for the rights of medical marijuana patients and their caregivers.

Contact us for a free no-obligation case evaluation at 800-656-3557.

Federal class action lawsuit filed against MSP crime labs over marijuana reporting policy

Jun 23, 2016 | Blog, Marijuana Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Komorn, Medical Marijuana Attorney Michael Komorn, Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, Michigan Medical Marijuana Criminal Defense, News

DETROIT — Attorneys filed a federal class action lawsuit against the Michigan State Police crime labs this week, claiming its current marijuana reporting policy violates due process and Fourth Amendment rights and demanding it be thrown out for good.

This suit would have statewide impact, directly affecting the some 180,000 registered medical marijuana patients and anyone caught with marijuana in Michigan. Attorneys Michael Komorn and Tim Daniels filed the suit Tuesday with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit Division.

They write the crime labs intentionally misreport marijuana as synthetic, as we saw in the Max Lorincz case in Ottawa County. A judge threw out his felony drug charge 16 months into the case; meanwhile, Lorincz’s 6-year-old son spent 18 months in foster care.

Lorincz is one of the four plaintiffs in the complaint.

But it goes further, writing that the 2013 marijuana policy in the labs was “made in an attempt to strip medical marijuana patients of their rights and immunities, charge or threaten to charge citizens with greater crimes than they might have committed, obtain plea deals and increase proceeds from drug forfeiture.”

“The fact that it continues to go on,” said Komorn, “it’s an outrage; it’s not science. The Michigan Medical Marijuana [Program] was supposed to be a shield, not a sword.”

Last fall, the MSP Forensic Science Division Director Captain Gregoire Michaud, whoquietly retired this May, made a presentation for the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar. Michaud had said out of the crime labs’ $60 million budget, 40 percent was spent on testing marijuana. He said this caseload volume impeded their work on investigating other cases, specifically testing rape kits statewide.

Komorn reiterated this suit is working to dismiss this policy in the labs and rearrange the state police’s priorities.

“That’s one of the things that I’m hoping comes out of this, is that we turn the focus away from and onto the more, that we would all agree, serious crimes that we need full-on police investigation attention,” said Komorn.

The MSP Public Affairs Manager Shanon Banner told FOX 17 Wednesday they will not comment on a pending case, defaulting to their Nov. 2015 statement.

Later this year, the state police labs are up for their renewal of their international accreditation with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board. It is likely the MSP’s crime labs’ marijuana misreporting allegations will be challenged during this process.

Read the lawsuit in full here.

POSTED 6:01 PM, JUNE 22, 2016, BY DANA CHICKLAS

TOPICS: FEDERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE POLICE CRIME LABS, MAX LORINCZ, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, MICHAEL KOMORN

State lawmakers turn grass into campaign cash

Apr 10, 2016 | Blog, Legalization, Michigan Medical Marijuana Act

Michigan’s medical marijuana law is a mess and dispensaries are popping up like, well, weeds and patients, police and politicians say something needs to change.

For the second year in a row, lawmakers are promising action in the meantime, FOX 2 found that their campaign accounts have reached new highs.

Local News

State lawmakers are finally poised to fix problems with Michigan’s medical marijuana law. It’s a worthy goal, one that that has proven very lucrative.

In fact, their efforts to help patients get better pot, has helped the politicians raise quite a lot.

M.L. Elrick: “How nice do you think it would be for the people of Michigan to say, ‘Here’s a guy who’s not going to take money because he thinks it’s might create at least the appearance of a conflict of interest?'”

Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge): “Well … ”

That’s Rick Jones, chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee. Any effort to reform Michigan’s medical marijuana law will need Jones’ blessing.

Jones: “There’s probably a thousand factions out there.”

And many of them have given Jones’ campaign fund or his political action committee a big, fat check.

Jones: “I don’t choose who they donate to.”

That’s because lawmakers are trying to fix problems caused by the 2008 state referendum that made marijuana legal for medicinal purposes only, of course.

Voters approved using cannabis to treat the ill or aching, but questions have cropped up about the legality of matters like dispensaries and marijuana edibles and oils.

The state supreme court has weighed in on some matters, but law enforcement, law makers – and even law breakers – still have plenty of questions.

Key players in the reform efforts are the chairmen of the house and senate judiciary committees.

“What we have right now in Michigan is basically the wild, wild, west,” Jones said.

“We need to have some sort of structure for patient safety,” said Rep. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce) “For consumer safety, if it becomes legal, for a structure so that cities, townships, villages, counties are able to understand where the product is, where it’s going for taxation purposes, in order to provide the services that come after.”

“What this will do is license growers, it’ll license people who transport the product and it will license dispensaries,” Jones said. “People will know what they’re getting. It will be tested for all the bad things like the mold and the bug spray and all that to make sure that people aren’t getting that.

“Treating it more like a medicine I think is important.”

So in one of the ironies that is commonplace in the Capitol, Kesto, who is a former prosecutor, and Jones, a former sheriff, are spending a lot of time hanging out with people who make a living selling weed.

“It’s the American way of politics,” said Rich Robinson.

Still, even the cops say something must be done. Of course, no good deed goes unrewarded in Lansing.

And Kesto and Jones have collected plenty of campaign cash from folks who want to grow grass.

“It’s not surprising at all that the money’s coming out now,” said Robinson: “It’s directed with a purpose. It sure isn’t random.”

Robinson, of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, has tracked the flow of dough in Lansing for years. He says lawmakers are experts at turning controversy into campaign checks.

“In the way this plays out, Sen. Jones will certainly consider the point of view of the interest group,” Robinson said. “But it’s ‘Step into the milking barn first before we have this conversation.'”

Campaign accounts for key Republican lawmakers have been getting fat with checks from all the folks with a stake in medical marijuana reform.

Jones leads the judiciary committee that is weighing potential changes to the rules. He recently raked in more than $16,000.

Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville) led an early house effort to change the law. Since then, he’s collected more than $12,000.

Rep. Kesto has also been a leader on the issue. he’s snagged more than $11,000.

As Senate Majority Floor Leader, Mike Kowall draws a lot of water. And he’s cashed checks worth more than $5,000.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof knows how to count votes, too. And the amount sent to his political fund is at more than $4,000.

Democrats have received a little dough, too. Senate Democratic Floor Leader Jim Ananich has collected nearly $2,000.

Overall, Republicans have raised more than $55,000.

Robinson: “That’s real money, that’s real money.”

Kesto has also collected some criticism. George Brikho owns a hydroponics store and claims Kesto’s real goal is to create a lucrative carve out within the marijuana industry that will benefit the Boji family. Kesto disagrees.

“As we set up a framework, people get a little jittery,” Kesto said. “They get scared about the future, and the model changing. And I don’t know what his issue is. But it sounds like it’s more than just the business. He may need some medicine.”

The Bojis cast a shadow over Lansing, and not just from the landmark tower they own across from the Capitol.

Ron Boji recently held a high-end fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Mike Kowal at his palatial home. Even Gov. Rick Snyder passed through.

Kesto’s political accounts don’t show any recent contributions from Boji. but FOX 2 spied him huddling with Terrance Mansour of the Michigan Cannabis Development Association and a couple other fellows with strong opinions about medical marijuana reform.

Elrick: “Nobody has a leg up with you?” Kesto: “With me? No. I look out for the people of the state of Michigan.”

Sen. Jones also says the only influence he will come under, is what’s best for the good people of the great state of Michigan.

“You will never find, not once, somebody who bought me or bought a vote,” Jones said. “I’m the only guy in town that said ‘no’ to Matty Moroun.”

But there’s no denying that medical marijuana reform has been very good for Jones’ political action committee.

“Jones’ leadership PAC has really been moribund for years,” Robinson said. “And it certainly came to life in the last few months.”

The $14,000 that Jones’ PAC raised in the most recent filing period, is by far the most it has collected in a single reporting period since Jones founded it more than nine years ago.

Much, if not all, of that money came from folks with an interest in the medical marijuana reform legislation that just happens to be resting in the hands of Jones’ Senate Judiciary Committee.

Elrick: “How nice do you think it would be for the people of Michigan to say, ‘Here’s a guy who’s not going to take money because he thinks it’s might create at least the appearance of a conflict of interest?'”

“Well, I would have them look at any other legislator in town and they raise a lot more money than I do,” Jones said. “Some of them a great deal of money. And I don’t.”

Jones’ new-found fundraising prowess comes at a curious time. He is serving his last term in the Senate. Term limits mean his State House career ends in 2018.

Elrick: “Why continue to raise money? If there’s one guy in Michigan who could say: ‘I’m not even going to let people think I’m being influenced by you, it’s me, because I’m done.'”

“Every senator, every representative raises for their caucus,” Jones said. “Typically we’re asked to contribute $7,000 a year to the caucus, Republican or Democrat, either one, to assist with the re-election of other people. so that’s one reason to raise.

“The other reason to raise is that I can take care of the charities, whether it be veterans or children’s groups or hospice or Special Olympics. I can take care of those groups in my community.”

While it took in $14,000 this fall, Jones’ political action committee only cut two checks – one for $200 to the Michigan State University College Republicans and one for $100 to the friends of Sean Bertolino.

Elrick: “So the money that you’re raising now isn’t for your next campaign?”

“Never say never, I haven’t decided,” Jones said. “And I could transfer that. Say I were to run for governor, could I transfer that for a governor’s campaign? Yes, I could.”

Elrick: “And some of the money that you might use for higher office you’re getting it from people who might be spending it, so they can get higher themselves.”

“No,” Jones said. “No.”

Campaign accounts open to public inspection are not the only places lawmakers are loading up on loot. Jones and Kesto are like many politicians in Lansing and have non-profit accounts that don’t have to report where they get their money – or how they spend it.

Jones said that his non-profit has collected $5,000 from marijuana reformers and Kesto says he has only collected a couple thousand.

When it comes to contributors, Jones says nobody has influenced his vote. He says he has invited these people to fundraisers and if they chose to come and make a contribution that was their decision.

If marijuana gets legalized by voters, the reform efforts: Two separate movements: The Michigan Cannabis Coalition and MI Legalize who want to legalize recreational use of marijuana. They are now collecting signatures and they have to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures. That would go on the ballot in November, 2016 .

Watch The Report

What life is like after police ransack your house

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/03/why-armed-drug-cops-took-every-belonging-from-a-michigan-soccer-mom/

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