Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The state on Friday started accepting applications for the state's new, regulated medical marijuana facilities. An estimate from the House Fiscal Agency pegs the industry as growing to more than $800 million.
Signs directed people to the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation if they wanted to submit paper applications, and a rope line pointed the way toward the beginning of the line. But people seemed to be availing themselves of the online application, according to BMMR Director Andrew Brisbo.
"We wanted to be prepared in case there was a big rush of folks coming in," Brisbo said.
The bureau flipped the online application into action at 12:01 a.m. By 12:04 a.m., Brisbo said the could see activity on the system. And the department is already receiving application materials. In total, 15 applications were started and three have gone all the way through the submission process.
Brisbo said the bureau wanted to be ready for any people who came in in person. In addition to the line setup, they had a state police presence to ensure security, in case people wanted to pay the $6,000 application fee in cash.
Michigan already has a medical marijuana footprint, as voters approved a law for its growth and use in 2008. There are 42,406 caregivers and 265,607 patients in the state. But the law was silent on the more commercial side of marijuana, resulting in a legal grey area around businesses like marijuana dispensaries.
In 2016 the legislature passed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Act, which set up a broad framework for the licensing and regulation of marijuana growers, processers, testers, secure transporters and provisioning centers.
The act created the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board and the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, which was charged with fleshing out the details. The board took public testimony, and the bureau recently filed the emergency rules that would govern the industry.
Businesses seeking to enter the industry took an active role in trying to shape the rules that governed it.
Brisbo said between the law passing and now, the bureau had rolled out two IT systems and promulgated emergency rules.
"We've really come a long way to have this ready at this point," Brisbo said.
The state will continue to accept applications. There is no limit on the number of licenses the state can issue.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Michigan starts accepting applications for medical marijuana businesses | MLive.com
Author: Emily Lawler,
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Greenzone
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
Signs directed people to the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation if they wanted to submit paper applications, and a rope line pointed the way toward the beginning of the line. But people seemed to be availing themselves of the online application, according to BMMR Director Andrew Brisbo.
"We wanted to be prepared in case there was a big rush of folks coming in," Brisbo said.
The bureau flipped the online application into action at 12:01 a.m. By 12:04 a.m., Brisbo said the could see activity on the system. And the department is already receiving application materials. In total, 15 applications were started and three have gone all the way through the submission process.
Brisbo said the bureau wanted to be ready for any people who came in in person. In addition to the line setup, they had a state police presence to ensure security, in case people wanted to pay the $6,000 application fee in cash.
Michigan already has a medical marijuana footprint, as voters approved a law for its growth and use in 2008. There are 42,406 caregivers and 265,607 patients in the state. But the law was silent on the more commercial side of marijuana, resulting in a legal grey area around businesses like marijuana dispensaries.
In 2016 the legislature passed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Act, which set up a broad framework for the licensing and regulation of marijuana growers, processers, testers, secure transporters and provisioning centers.
The act created the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board and the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, which was charged with fleshing out the details. The board took public testimony, and the bureau recently filed the emergency rules that would govern the industry.
Businesses seeking to enter the industry took an active role in trying to shape the rules that governed it.
Brisbo said between the law passing and now, the bureau had rolled out two IT systems and promulgated emergency rules.
"We've really come a long way to have this ready at this point," Brisbo said.
The state will continue to accept applications. There is no limit on the number of licenses the state can issue.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Michigan starts accepting applications for medical marijuana businesses | MLive.com
Author: Emily Lawler,
Contact: MLive contacts, services and support | MLive Contacts - MLive.com
Photo Credit: Greenzone
Website: Michigan Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - MLive.com
