SB386 S JUD AMT

Lovell 7980

The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 386--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-8A-1, §16-8A-2, §16-8A-3, §16-8A-4, §16-8A-5, §16-8A-6, §16-8A-7, §16-8A-8, §16-8A-9, §16-8A-10, §16-8A-11, §16-8A-12, §16-8A-13, §16-8A-14, §16-8A-15, §16-8A-16, and §16-8A-17, all relating to creating the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act; defining terms; creating the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission; setting forth members of the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission; setting forth responsibilities for the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission; creating a special revenue account known as the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission Fund; requiring a portion of any profit to be spend for specific programs; detailing the fund’s revenue sources and disbursements; detailing requirements of the commission to implement the provisions of the act; setting requirements for becoming a certifying physician; authorizing the commission to approve physician applications for certain medical conditions; requiring reporting to the Controlled Substances monitoring database; setting out conditions for which cannabis may be used; requiring certain annual reports to the Governor and Legislature; authorizing the commission to license medical cannabis growers and grower agents that meet certain requirements; setting forth certain parameters for licensed growers and grower agents; requiring a certain percentage of licenses be granted to persons in veterans agriculture programs; providing an exception for a qualifying patient to grow a specified amount without a license; authorizing the commission to license dispensaries and register dispensary agents; setting forth certain requirements for dispensaries and dispensary agents setting an initial limit on number of medical cannabis growers and dispensaries; authorizing commission to license the number of growers and dispensaries sufficient to meet demand as of July 1, 2020; authorizing the commission to license medical cannabis processors and register processor agents; authorizing testing laboratories; stating requirements for the commission’s registration of independent laboratories; requiring the State Police and commission to enter a memorandum of understanding for criminal records checks and setting forth basic requirements; providing that certain persons licensed, registered and authorized under the act may not be subject to arrest, prosecution or any civil or administrative penalty, including a civil penalty or disciplinary action by a professional licensing board, or be denied any right or privilege, for the medical use of cannabis; creating a new criminal offense of distributing, possessing, manufacturing or using cannabis that has been diverted from an authorized medicinal use; specifically stating conduct related to cannabis that is not protected by the provisions of the act; authorizing state employees to recover certain counsel fees; empowering the Governor to suspend implementation of the act if the Governor determines certain federal action may occur; authorizing promulgation of emergency rules and the proposal of legislative rules for approval by the Legislature; and establishing effective dates.

Adopted

Rejected