Marijuana Business Magazine - March 2018

Oregon The agency that regulates the state’s marijuana market passed new rules that include heavier penalties for cannabis retailers and employees who sell product to minors. Effective immediately, first-time offenders will face 30-day license suspensions or a $4,950 fine. The new fine is triple the previous amount for the same offense and triple what alcohol retailers face if they sell to minors. Penalties will increase with subsequent viola- tions. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission said the tougher penalties were in response to the low rates of compliance with state rules. Pennsylvania Medical marijuana regulators must disclose more infor- mation about business license applicants under a ruling by the state’s Office of Open Records. The decision by an appeals officer requires the Pennsylvania health depart- ment to make public the names of principals, operators and financial backers for MMJ cultivation and dispensary applicants. However, no information would be released until the Commonwealth Court makes a final decision, a cannabis-focused attorney said. The health depart- ment was given 30 days to comply or pursue an appeal through the Commonwealth Court. Rhode Island The governor is making another push to expand the state’s medical marijuana program. Gov. Gina Raimondo’s $9.4 billion state budget plan for the 2019 fiscal year includes establishing 15 more medical marijuana dispen- saries, adding acute pain to the list of MMJ qualifying conditions and allowing Massachusetts and Connecticut cardholders to buy medical cannabis in Rhode Island. The governor wants to increase the number of dispensaries from three in order to provide more patient access to MMJ and because she projects a $5.1 million increase in revenue from such a move. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott privately signed a marijuana bill into law, making the state the first in the nation to authorize the possession and use of recreational cannabis through the legislature. The law, which goes into effect July 1, allows adults to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, two mature plants and four immature ones. The statute con- tains no mechanism for the sale or taxation of marijuana, although the legislature is expected to develop such a system. – Roger Fillion Note: Entries sourced from Marijuana Business Daily and other international, national and local news outlets. These develop- ments occurred before this magazine’s February publication deadline, so some situations may have changed. 28 • Marijuana Business Magazine • March 2018