Black Thursday

April 12, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading / Regulations

Try as I might, I cannot possibly get to all of you before Thursday (I have tried!). Accordingly, I am writing this blog in an effort to address various issues that appear common to most MMJ business people.

  1. 7/1/10 is the effective date for all MMJ businesses going forward. I understand that Mr. Matt Cook has told some of you that you have until 7/1/11 to comply. This is not the case. I have spoken with Mr. Cook, and corresponded with him on several occasions. In his correspondence he makes clear that your MMC and/or MIP application will be evaluated using the 7/1/10 date. For those of you seeking to add a retail or add a grow after 7/1/10, Mr. Cook advises that both aspects of the MMC must be locally approved on or before 7/1/10.
  2. There is no one year state moratorium. However, there is a de facto moratorium in that you cannot operate after 7/1/10 unless you were “established”/locally approved for both the grow and retail location(s) before 7/1/10. Otherwise, you cannot operate until both local and state approval are obtained.
  3. Hash is going to be considered an “infused product.” The distinction provided by Mr. Cook is that green stuff in a bag is for MMCs, everything else is for MIPs.
  4. There can be no deliveries except in the narrow circumstances provided in HB1284.
  5. One grow can supply a MMC with multiple locations and common ownership.
  6. One grow cannot supply MMJ to multiple MMCs not wholly and commonly owned by the same people. NO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR GROWS NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE IS TELLING YOU!
  7. The residency, “no felony w/i five years of completion of sentence” and “no felony drug convictions ever” standards apply for owners, employees and managers of the MMC. The criminal background issues apply equally to investors.
  8. The 70/30 rule applies on 7/1/10 and the certification is due 9/1/10. Again, in evaluating your application and 70/30 certification, the state will look back to 7/1/10.
  9. MIPs must be locally approved by 7/1/10 to be considered established under HB1284 even if there is no such licensing procedure locally available.
  10. The MIP may, but is not required to, grow its own MMJ using a locally approved OPC or may contract, in writing, with up to 5 MMCs to purchase the MMJ for use in making the products. The MIP MMJ cannot be resold to any other business or person, but the MIP can sell its products to any MMC.

I know how hard it is out there. Better to be on the sideline and do it right, then be further down the road doing it wrong. Remember, doing it wrong can result in delay, denial, permanent bar from future MMJ business or removal of any protection from criminal prosecution.

Stay legal, stay safe.