West Virginia’s Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced a stripped-down version of a medical cannabis reform bill that would have allowed patients to grow their own medicine and possess flower; however, those provisions were removed by the committee, according to CNHI News.
In its amended form, the measure would allow program reciprocity for patients, rescind residency requirements for would-be industry operators, change how much in fees operators will pay, and create industry-specific employee licensing.
Under the measure, initial permit fees will cover all locations rather than a separate fee for each location; however, renewal fees will no longer cover all locations.
The bill had originally called for patients to be able to cultivate 12 plants and 12 seedlings and possess more than 4 ounces of flower per patient – but both were struck down by the committee. Under the current law – which passed in 2017 but has yet to be implemented – patients can only possess tinctures, liquids, capsules, patches, or vaporize cannabis.
The committee also advanced a measure requiring that minors caught possessing cannabis – and their parents – attend classes on the dangers of the plant and another that would cap possession penalties at $1,000 with no jail time.
This is the second time since 2018 that a bill to allow patients to access flower has been fought back by legislative leaders. The last attempt was part of broader reforms that included statewide decriminalization, cannabis home delivery, which were both removed by the Senate before the bill stalled at the end of that year’s session.
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