Section 1. Purpose and findings.
(a) Cannabis prohibition, like alcohol prohibition before it, has been a wasteful and destructive failure. About half of Americans admit to having used cannabis despite more than eight decades of prohibition.
(b) Regulating cannabis similarly to alcohol will replace the uncontrolled illicit market with a well regulated system. Legalization allows regulation and control to protect consumers, workers, communities, and the environment.
(c) The prohibition of cannabis has had an unfair, disparate impact on persons and communities of color. A 2020 report by the ACLU found Black individuals are 3.6 times as likely as white individuals to be arrested for cannabis possession, despite nearly identical use rates.
(d) The prohibition of cannabis diverts law enforcement resources from violent and property crimes and subjects civilians to unnecessary police interactions.
(e) Keeping cannabis illegal deprives the state of thousands of legal jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.
(f) The State of [State] finds and declares that the use of cannabis should be legal for persons 21 years of age or older and subject to taxation and regulation in a manner that:
(1) controls the production and distribution of cannabis under a system of licensing, regulation, and taxation;
(2) includes lab testing, potency labeling, secure packaging, restrictions on advertising, and education about responsible use and risks;
(3) fosters a responsible industry, whereby businesses will only be allowed to expand if they prioritize diversity, good wages, sustainability, and community investment;
(4) promotes the participation of individuals most impacted by cannabis prohibition in the legal, regulated industry; and
(5) generates needed revenue, including to reinvest in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by prohibition, for substance abuse treatment and education, and to train more law enforcement officers to detect impaired driving.
(g) The State of [State] further finds and declares that it is necessary to ensure consistency and fairness in the application of this chapter throughout the state and that, therefore, the matters addressed by this chapter are, except as specified herein, matters of statewide concern.
Section 2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Consumer” means a person 21 years of age or older who purchases cannabis or cannabis products for personal use by persons 21 years of age or older, but not for resale.
(b) “Department” means [the appropriate department, which in most cases will be the one regulating alcohol sales] or its successor agency.
(c) “Hemp” means the plant of the genus cannabis and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed three-tenths percent on a dry weight basis of any part of the plant cannabis, or per volume or weight of cannabis product, or the combined percent of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in any part of the cannabis plant regardless of moisture content.
(d) “Locality” means a municipality or, in reference to a location outside the boundaries of a municipality, a county.
(e) “Cannabis” means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or its resin, including cannabis concentrate. “Cannabis” does not include hemp, nor does it include fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, or sterilized seed of the plant, which is incapable of germination.
(f) “Cannabis accessories” means any equipment, products, or materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, composting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, vaporizing, or containing cannabis, or for ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cannabis into the human body.
(g) “Cannabis cultivation facility” means an entity registered to cultivate, prepare, and package cannabis and sell cannabis to other cannabis establishments but not to consumers. A cannabis cultivation facility may not produce cannabis concentrates, tinctures, extracts, or other cannabis products unless it is also licensed as a cannabis product manufacturing facility.
(h) “Cannabis delivery service” or “delivery service” means an entity registered to deliver cannabis to consumers.
(i) “Cannabis establishment” means a cannabis cultivation facility, a cannabis delivery service, an on-site consumption establishment, a cannabis testing facility, a cannabis product manufacturing facility, a cannabis transporter, a retail cannabis store, or any other type of cannabis business authorized and registered by the department.
(j) “Cannabis product manufacturing facility” means an entity registered to purchase cannabis; manufacture, prepare, and package cannabis products; and sell cannabis and cannabis products to other cannabis establishments but not to consumers.
(k) “Cannabis products” means products that are comprised of cannabis, cannabis concentrate, or cannabis extract, and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not limited to, edible products, ointments, and tinctures.
(l) “Cannabis testing facility” means an entity registered to test cannabis for potency and contaminants.
(m) “Cannabis transporter” means an entity registered to transport cannabis between cannabis establishments.
(n) “On-site consumption establishment” means an entity registered to sell cannabis or cannabis products for on-site consumption.
(o) “Possession limit” means:
(1) Two ounces of cannabis in a form other than concentrated cannabis or cannabis products;
(2) Fifteen grams of concentrated cannabis;
(3) Cannabis products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC;
(4) Six cannabis plants; and
(5) Any additional cannabis produced by the person’s cannabis plants provided that the possession of any amount of cannabis in excess of two ounces of cannabis, 15 grams of concentrated cannabis, and cannabis products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC must be limited to the same property where the plants were cultivated.
(p) “Public place” means any place to which the general public has access. It does not include an on-site consumption establishment.
(q) “Retail cannabis store” means an entity registered to purchase cannabis from cannabis establishments and sell cannabis and cannabis products to consumers.
Section 3. Personal use of cannabis.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following acts are not unlawful and shall not be a criminal or civil offense under [State] law or the law of any political subdivision of [State] or be a basis for a search, seizure, or forfeiture of assets under [State] law for persons 21 years of age or older:
(1) Possessing, consuming, ingesting, smoking, growing, using, processing, purchasing, or transporting an amount of cannabis that does not exceed the possession limit;
(2) Transferring an amount of cannabis that does not exceed the possession limit to a person who is 21 years of age or older without remuneration;
(3) Controlling property where actions described by this section occur; and
(4) Assisting another person who is 21 years of age or older in any of the acts described in this section.
Section 4. Restrictions on personal cultivation, penalty.
(a) It is unlawful to cultivate cannabis plants in a manner that is contrary to this section:
(1) Cannabis plants may not be cultivated in a location where the plants are subject to public view, including view from another private property, without the use of binoculars, aircraft, or other optical aids.
(2) A person who cultivates cannabis must take reasonable precautions to ensure the plants are secure from unauthorized access and access by a person under 21 years of age. For purposes of illustration and not limitation, cultivating cannabis in an enclosed, locked space that persons under 21 years of age do not possess a key to constitutes reasonable precautions.
(3) Cannabis cultivation may only occur on property lawfully in possession of the cultivator or with the consent of the person in lawful possession of the property.
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of up to $750 or up to 50 hours of community service.
Section 5. Public smoking prohibited, penalty.
(a) It is unlawful to smoke cannabis in a public place.
(b) It is unlawful to smoke cannabis in an area of an on-site consumption establishment where cannabis smoking is prohibited.
(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of up to $50 or up to three hours of community service.
Section 6. False identification, penalty.
(a) A person who is under 21 years of age may not present or offer to a cannabis establishment or the cannabis establishment’s agent or employee any written or oral evidence of age that is false, fraudulent, or not actually the minor’s own for the purpose of:
(1) Purchasing, attempting to purchase, or otherwise procuring or attempting to procure cannabis; or
(2) Gaining access to a cannabis establishment.
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of not more than $150 or up to 10 hours of community service.
Section 7. Unlawful cannabis extraction, penalties.
(a) No person, other than a cannabis product manufacturing facility complying with this chapter and department regulations, may perform solvent-based extractions on cannabis using solvents other than water, glycerin, propylene glycol, vegetable oil, butter, or food-grade ethanol.
(b) No person may extract compounds from cannabis using ethanol in the presence or vicinity of open flame.
(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Section 8. Cannabis accessories authorized.
(a) Except as provided in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is not unlawful and shall not be an offense under [State] law or the law of any political subdivision of [State] or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under [State] law for persons 21 years of age or older to manufacture, possess, possess with intent to distribute, or purchase cannabis accessories, or to distribute or sell cannabis accessories to a person who is 21 years of age or older.
(b) Except as provided in this section, a person who is 21 years of age or older is authorized to manufacture, possess, and purchase cannabis accessories, and to distribute or sell cannabis accessories to a person who is 21 years of age or older. This section is intended to meet the requirements of subsection (f) of Section 863 of Title 21 of the United States Code (21 U.S.C. Sec. 863(f)) by authorizing, under state law, any person in compliance with this chapter to manufacture, possess, or distribute cannabis accessories.
(c) No person may manufacture, distribute, or sell cannabis accessories that violate reasonable regulations enacted by the department. A first offense violation is a civil fine of up to $1,000 and forfeiture of the cannabis accessories. A second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both and forfeiture of the cannabis accessories.
Section 9. Non-discrimination for personal use of cannabis.
(a) A person shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or be denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to disciplinary action by a business, occupational, or professional licensing board or bureau, solely for conduct permitted under this chapter.
(b) (1) Except as provided in this section, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may impose any penalty or deny any benefit or entitlement for conduct permitted under this chapter or for the presence of cannabinoids or cannabinoid metabolites in the urine, blood, saliva, breath, hair, or other tissue or fluid of a person who is 21 years of age or older.
(2) Except as provided in this section, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may deny a driver’s license, a professional license, housing assistance, social services, or other benefits based on cannabis use or for the presence of cannabinoids or cannabinoid metabolites in the urine, blood, saliva, breath, hair, or other tissue or fluid of a person who is 21 years of age or older.
(c) A person shall not be denied custody of or visitation with a minor for acting in accordance with this act, unless the person’s behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to the minor that can be clearly articulated and substantiated.
(d) Except as provided in this section, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment, or otherwise penalize a person in employment or contracting, if the discrimination is based upon either of the following:
(1) a prior conviction for a non-violent cannabis offense that does not involve distribution to minors; or
(2) testing positive for the presence of cannabinoids or cannabinoid metabolites in the urine, blood, saliva, breath, hair, or other tissue or fluid of the individual's body.
(e)(1) This section does not prevent a government employer from disciplining an employee or contractor for ingesting cannabis in the workplace or for working while impaired by cannabis.
(2) The protections provided by this section do not apply to the extent that they conflict with a governmental employer’s obligations under federal law or regulations or to the extent that they would disqualify the entity from a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
(3) This section does not authorize any person to engage in, and does not prevent the imposition of any civil, criminal, disciplinary, or other penalties, including discipline or termination by a governmental employer, any task while under the influence of cannabis, when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice.
(f) For the purposes of medical care, including organ and tissue transplants, the use of cannabis does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a person from needed medical care and may only be considered with respect to evidence-based clinical criteria.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless there is a specific finding that the individual’s use, cultivation, or possession of cannabis could create a danger to the individual or another person, it shall not be a violation of conditions of parole, probation, or pre-trial release to:
(1) engage in conduct allowed by this chapter; or
(2) test positive for cannabis, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or any other cannabinoid or metabolite of cannabis.
Section 10. Odor of cannabis not grounds for a search.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis shall not constitute in part or in whole probable cause or reasonable suspicion and shall not be used as a basis to support any stop or search of a person or motor vehicle.
(b) A law enforcement official may conduct a test for impairment based on the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis if such official reasonably suspects the operator of a motor vehicle, train, or boat was operating the vehicle while impaired by cannabis.
Section 11. Lawful operation of cannabis-related facilities.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following acts, when performed by a cannabis establishment with a current, valid registration, or a person 21 years of age or older who is acting in his or her capacity as an owner, employee, or agent of a cannabis establishment, are not unlawful and shall not be an offense under [State] law or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under [State] law: Engaging in any activities involving cannabis, cannabis accessories, or cannabis products if the person conducting the activities has obtained a current, valid registration to operate a cannabis establishment or is acting in his or her capacity as an owner, employee, or agent of a registered cannabis establishment, and the activities are within the scope of activities allowed by the department for that type of cannabis establishment.
(b) Nothing in this section prevents the imposition of penalties for violating this chapter or rules adopted by the department or localities pursuant to this chapter.
Section 12. Verifying the age of cannabis consumers.
(a) A cannabis establishment or an agent or staffer of a cannabis establishment may not sell, deliver, distribute, give, transfer, or otherwise furnish cannabis to a person under the age of 21.
(b) Except as otherwise provided this section, in a prosecution for selling, transferring, delivering, distributing, giving, or otherwise furnishing cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories to any person who is under 21 years of age, it is a complete defense if:
(1) The person who sold, gave, or otherwise furnished cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories was a retail cannabis store or on-site consumption establishment or was acting in his or her capacity as an owner, employee, or agent of a retail cannabis store or on-site consumption establishment at the time the cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories was sold, given, or otherwise furnished to the person; and
(2) Before selling, giving, or otherwise furnishing cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories to a person who is under 21 years of age, the person who sold, gave, or otherwise furnished the cannabis or cannabis accessories, or a staffer or agent of the retail cannabis store, was shown a document that appeared to be issued by an agency of a federal, state, tribal, or foreign sovereign government and that indicated that the person to whom the cannabis or cannabis accessories was sold, given, or otherwise furnished was 21 years of age or older at the time the cannabis or cannabis accessories was sold, given, or otherwise furnished to the person.
(c) The complete defense set forth in this section does not apply if:
(1) The document that was shown to the person who sold, gave, or otherwise furnished the cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories was counterfeit, forged, altered, or issued to a person other than the person to whom the cannabis, cannabis products or cannabis accessories was sold, given, or otherwise furnished; and
(2) Under the circumstances, a reasonable person would have known or suspected that the document was counterfeit, forged, altered, or issued to a person other than the person to whom the cannabis, cannabis products, or cannabis accessories was sold, given, or otherwise furnished.
Section 13. Occupational licensing.
(a) A holder of a professional or occupational license may not be subject to professional discipline for providing advice or services related to cannabis establishments or applications to operate cannabis establishments on the basis that cannabis is illegal under federal law.
(b) An applicant for a professional or occupational license may not be denied a license based on previous employment related to cannabis establishments operating in accordance with state law.
Section 14. Office of Social Equity.
(a) There shall be established an Office of Social Equity within the department. The governor shall appoint an executive director who must have at least five years of experience in civil rights advocacy, civil rights litigation, or social justice.
(b) The Office of Social Equity shall promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement in order to positively impact those communities. Its duties shall include:
(1) defining “social equity applicant,” and considering whether the definition should include any or all of the following:
(i) individuals with past convictions for a cannabis offense,
(ii) individuals whose parent had a prior conviction for a cannabis offense,
(iii) individuals who have had a less than honorable discharge from the military due to cannabis,
(iv) individuals from census tracts or other geographic areas disproportionately impacted by cannabis enforcement, poverty, unemployment, cannabis prohibition, mass incarceration, and/or systemic racism,
(v) racial and ethnic minorities that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis enforcement, and
(vi) racial and ethnic minorities that have been disproportionately excluded from the legal cannabis industry;
(2) administering the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities that have experienced a disproportionate negative impact from poverty, unemployment, cannabis prohibition and enforcement, mass incarceration, and/or systemic racism;
(3) administering the Social Equity Fund to issue zero-interest loans and grants to social equity applicants and cannabis establishments owned and operated by social equity applicants;
(4) administering the Cannabis Education and Technical Assistance Fund to provide free or low-cost training, education, and technical assistance for individuals working in the cannabis industry or owning a cannabis establishment, with a focus on individuals who would qualify as social equity applicants;
(5) advising the department regarding regulations, including advising against implementing regulations and financial requirements that unnecessarily impose financial burdens that undermine the purposes of this section and providing recommendations on regulations related to diversity, social equity applications, and the Race to the Top scoring system;
(6) producing reports and recommendations on diversity and equity in the legal cannabis economy, including in ownership, management, and employment; and
(7) investigating whether businesses are adhering to their obligations, including those undertaken as part of the Race to the Top scored system, and recommending corrective action or discipline if they fail to do so, which may include a suspension or revocation of licenses.
(c) (1) Before determining how funds from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund will be allocated, the Office of Social Equity shall promote and hold public meetings in at least 10 of the census tract areas that have been significantly impacted by poverty, unemployment, cannabis prohibition, mass incarceration, and/or systemic racism to seek input on the communities’ needs and priorities for the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund.
(2) The Office of Social Equity shall distribute funds from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund in a manner that improves the wellbeing of communities and individuals that have been significantly impacted by poverty, unemployment, cannabis prohibition, mass incarceration, and/or systemic racism. Permissible uses of the fund include but are not limited to grants to nonprofit organizations or allocations to government agencies for:
(i) housing assistance, including to promote home ownership among members of minority groups that are underrepresented in home ownership due to redlining or discrimination;
(ii) re-entry services, including job training and placement;
(iii) scholarship assistance for low-income students;
(iv) grants to community-based organizations to provide services to prevent violence, support youth development, provide early intervention for youth and families, and promote community stability and safety; and
(v) legal or civic aid.
(d) No later than August 1 of each year, the Office of Social Equity must produce and make publicly available a report on how the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, Social Equity Fund, and Cannabis Education and Technical Assistance Fund were allocated during the prior year.
(e) No later than November 1 of each year, the Office of Social Equity shall solicit public input on the uses of the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, Social Equity Fund, and Cannabis Education and Technical Assistance Fund. The Office of Social Equity shall publish a review of feedback received no later than December 15 of each year.
Section 15. Rulemaking.
(a) Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act, the department shall adopt regulations necessary for implementation of this chapter. Such regulations shall not prohibit the operation of cannabis establishments, either expressly or through regulations, nor require such a high investment of risk, money, time, or any other resource or asset that the operation of a cannabis establishment is not worthy of being carried out in practice by a reasonably prudent businessperson. Such regulations shall include:
(1) Procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of a registration to operate a cannabis establishment, with such procedures subject to all requirements of the [state administrative procedure act];
(2) Rules, procedures, and policies to promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement and to positively impact those communities, which shall reflect input from the Office of Social Equity, including:
(i) Conducting necessary and appropriate outreach to diverse groups that may qualify for participation in activities under this chapter;
(ii) Requiring each cannabis establishment to establish and adhere to policies that encourage diversity in employment, contracting, and other professional opportunities;
(iii) Requiring any cannabis establishment with 25 or more employees to retain a diversity officer;
(iv) Requiring each cannabis establishment to report on the diversity of its workforce, management, contracts, and ownership by January 1 of each year; and
(v) Issuing regulations allowing social equity applicants to apply for, and be licensed for, cannabis establishment registrations no less than 180 days prior to applicants that are not social equity applicants;
(3) A “Race to the Top” scored system to make the expansion of a cannabis establishment to more than two locations contingent on the establishment’s contributions to equity and to benefiting the community. The system must reflect input from the Office of Social Equity and shall include but need not be limited to considerations of diversity in the establishment’s ownership and workforce, including in management; employment of reentering citizens with prior convictions; minority ownership; compensation packages and benefits for workers; investing in economically disadvantaged areas; whether the establishment incorporates principles of environmental resiliency or sustainability, including energy efficiency; and/or whether the principals are social equity applicants;
(4) A limit on the number of cannabis establishments a major investor may invest in, unless each additional establishment is owned and operated by a social equity applicant;
(5) A schedule of reasonable application, registration, and renewal fees, provided application fees shall not exceed $5,000, with this upper limit adjusted annually for inflation, unless the department determines a greater fee is necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter;
(6) Qualifications for registration that are directly and demonstrably related to the operation of a cannabis establishment and that may not disqualify applicants solely for cannabis offenses prior to the effective date of this act;
(7) Security requirements;
(8) Requirements for the transportation and storage of cannabis and cannabis products by cannabis establishments;
(9) Requirements for the delivery of cannabis and cannabis products to consumers, including a prohibition on business names, logos, and other identifying language or images on delivery vehicles and a prohibition on delivering to any address located on land owned by the federal government or any address on land or in a building leased by the federal government;
(10) Employment and training requirements, including requiring that each cannabis establishment create an identification badge for each employee or agent. These requirements and cannabis establishments may not disqualify applicants for cannabis offenses prior to the effective date of this act;
(11) Requirements designed to prevent the sale or diversion of cannabis and cannabis products to persons under the age of 21;
(12) Requirements for cannabis and cannabis products sold or distributed by a cannabis establishment, including prohibiting any misleading labeling and requiring cannabis product labels to include the following:
(i) The length of time it typically takes for the product to take effect;
(ii) A disclosure of ingredients and possible allergens;
(iii) A nutritional fact panel;
(iv) Requiring opaque, child-resistant packaging, which must be designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open and not difficult for normal adults to use properly as defined by 16 C.F.R. 1700.20 (1995); and
(v) Requiring that edible cannabis products be clearly identifiable, when practicable, with a standard symbol indicating that it contains cannabis;
(13) Health and safety regulations and standards for the manufacture of cannabis products and both the indoor and outdoor cultivation of cannabis by cannabis establishments;
(14) Restrictions on advertising, marketing, and signage including but not limited to a prohibition on mass-market campaigns that have a high likelihood of reaching minors;
(15) Regulations to create at least six tiers of cannabis cultivation facilities, based on the size of the facility or the number of plants cultivated, and whether the cultivation occurs outdoors, indoors, or in a greenhouse. Security regulations and licensing fees must vary based on the size of the cultivation facility;
(16) Restrictions or prohibitions on additives to cannabis and cannabis-infused products, including but not limited to those that are toxic or designed to make the product more addictive;
(17) Prohibitions on products that are designed to make the product more appealing to children, including prohibiting the use of any images designed or likely to appeal to minors, including cartoons, toys, animals, or children, and any other likeness to images, characters, or phrases that are popularly used to advertise to children;
(18) Restrictions on the use of pesticides that are injurious to human health;
(19) Regulations governing visits to cannabis cultivation facilities and cannabis product manufacturing facilities, including requiring the cannabis establishment to log visitors;
(20) A definition of the amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol that constitutes a single serving in a cannabis product;
(21) Standards for the safe manufacture of cannabis extracts and concentrates;
(22) Requirements that educational materials be disseminated to consumers who purchase cannabis-infused products;
(23) Requirements for random sample testing to ensure quality control, including by ensuring that cannabis and cannabis-infused products are accurately labeled for potency. Unless the department determines that remediation or treatment are sufficient to ensure product safety, the testing analysis must include testing for residual solvents, poisons, or toxins; harmful chemicals; dangerous molds or mildew; filth; and harmful microbials such as E. coli or salmonella and pesticides;
(24) Standards for the operation of cannabis testing facilities, including requirements for equipment and qualifications for personnel;
(25) Civil penalties for the failure to comply with regulations made pursuant to this chapter;
(26) Procedures for collecting taxes levied on cannabis establishments; and
(27) Requirements for on-site consumption establishments, including for security, ventilation, odor control, and consumption by patrons. These rules may include a prohibition on smoking indoors.
(b) After consulting with researchers knowledgeable about the risks and benefits of cannabis and providing an opportunity for public comment, the department shall develop a scientifically accurate safety information label, handout, or both, which shall be available to each adult-use cannabis consumer. The label or handout shall include:
(1) advice about the potential risks of cannabis, including:
(i) the risks of driving under the influence of cannabis, and the fact that doing so is illegal;
(ii) any adverse effects unique to younger adults, including related to the developing mind;
(iii) potential adverse events and other risks; and
(iv) risks of using cannabis during pregnancy or breastfeeding; and
(2) the need to safeguard all cannabis and cannabis products from children and pets.
(c) The department shall review and update the safety information materials at least once every two years to ensure they remain accurate. The review period shall include soliciting input from researchers knowledgeable about the risks and benefits of cannabis and an opportunity for public comment.
(d) In order to ensure that individual privacy is protected, the department shall not require a consumer to provide a retail cannabis store with personal information other than government-issued identification to determine the consumer’s age, and a retail cannabis store shall not be required to acquire and record personal information about consumers.
Section 16. Cannabis establishment registrations.
(a) Each application or renewal application for an annual registration to operate a cannabis establishment shall be submitted to the department. A renewal application may be submitted up to 90 days prior to the expiration of the cannabis establishment’s registration.
(b) The department shall begin accepting and processing applications to operate cannabis establishments from social equity applicants one year after the effective date of this act.
(c) The department may begin accepting and processing applications to operate cannabis establishments from applicants other than social equity applicants no earlier than one year and 180 days after the effective date of this act.
(d) Upon receiving an application or renewal application for a cannabis establishment, the department shall immediately forward a copy of each application and half of the registration application fee to the local regulatory authority for the locality in which the applicant desires to operate the cannabis establishment, unless the locality has not designated a local regulatory authority.
(e) Within 120 days after receiving an application or renewal application, the department shall issue an annual registration or a conditional registration to the applicant, unless the department finds the applicant is not in compliance with regulations enacted pursuant to Section 15 or the department is notified by the relevant locality that the applicant is not in compliance with ordinances and regulations made pursuant to Section 17 and in effect at the time of application.
(f) Applicants may apply for conditional approval if they have not purchased or leased the property where their cannabis establishment would be located. If the applicant is otherwise qualified for licensure, the department shall provide conditional approval. Once the applicant provides the department with a completed, supplemental application that includes the premises, the department shall forward the information to the local regulatory authority and approve or reject the final application within 45 days.
(g) Upon denial of an application, the department shall notify the applicant in writing of the specific reason for its denial.
(h) Cannabis establishments, and the books and records maintained and created by cannabis establishments, are subject to inspection by the department.
Section 17. Local control.
(a) An on-site consumption establishment may only operate if the local regulatory authority in the locality where it is located issued a permit, license, or registration that expressly allows the operation of the on-site consumption establishment.
(b) Except as provided in this subsection, a locality may prohibit the operation of any or all types of cannabis establishments within its jurisdiction through the enactment of an ordinance or through an initiated or referred measure, provided, any initiated or referred measure to prohibit the operation of establishments must appear on a general election ballot. A locality’s prohibition on cannabis establishments may not prohibit transportation through the locality or deliveries within the locality by cannabis establishments located in other jurisdictions.
(c) A locality may enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this chapter, or with regulations enacted pursuant to this chapter, governing the time, place, manner, and number of cannabis establishment operations. A locality may establish civil penalties for violation of an ordinance or regulations governing the time, place, and manner of a cannabis establishment that may operate in such locality.
(d) No locality may negotiate or enter into a host community agreement with a cannabis establishment or a cannabis establishment applicant. As used in this section, a “host community agreement” means an agreement that the cannabis establishment or applicant provide monies, donations, in-kind contributions, services, or anything of value to the locality.
Section 18. Driving under the influence prohibited.
Nothing in this chapter is intended to allow driving under the influence of cannabis or driving while impaired by cannabis or to supersede laws related to driving under the influence of cannabis or driving while impaired by cannabis.
Section 19. Minors.
Nothing in this chapter is intended to permit the transfer of cannabis, with or without remuneration, to a person under the age of 21 or to allow a person under the age of 21 to purchase, possess, use, transport, grow, or consume cannabis.
Section 20. Private property and tenant rights.
(a) Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this chapter do not require any person, corporation, or any other entity that occupies, owns, or controls a property to allow the consumption, cultivation, display, sale, or transfer of cannabis on or in that property.
(b) (1) Except as provided in this section, a landlord or property manager may not refuse to rent to a tenant, or otherwise discriminate against the tenant, based on a past conviction for a cannabis offense.
(2) Except as provided in this section, in the case of the rental of a residential dwelling, a landlord or property manager may not prohibit the possession of cannabis or the consumption of cannabis by non-smoked means.
(3) The limitations in this subsection do not apply if:
(i) The tenant is a roomer who is not leasing the entire residential dwelling;
(ii) The residence is incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or similar service;
(iii) The residence is a transitional housing or sober living facility; or
(iv) Failing to prohibit cannabis possession or consumption would violate federal law or regulations or cause the landlord to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.
(4) After a warning, a landlord or property manager may take action against a tenant if their use of cannabis creates an odor that interferes with others’ peaceful enjoyment of their home or property.
Section 21. Contracts enforceable.
It is the public policy of this state that contracts related to the operation of a cannabis establishment registered pursuant to this chapter should be enforceable. It is the public policy of this state that no contract entered into by a cannabis establishment or its employees or agents as permitted pursuant to a valid registration, or by those who allow property to be used by an establishment, its employees, or its agents as permitted pursuant to a valid registration, shall be unenforceable on the basis that cultivating, obtaining, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, transporting, selling, possessing, or using cannabis or hemp is prohibited by federal law.
Section 22. Respecting state law.
(a) No law enforcement officer employed by an agency that receives state or local government funds shall expend any state or local resources, including the officer’s time, to effect any arrest or seizure of cannabis, or conduct any investigation, on the sole basis of activity the officer believes to constitute a violation of federal law if the officer has reason to believe that such activity is in compliance with this act, nor shall any such officer expend any state or local resources, including the officer’s time, to provide any information or logistical support related to such activity to any federal law enforcement authority or prosecuting entity.
(b) No agency or political subdivision of [State] may rely on a violation of federal law related to cannabis as the sole basis for taking an adverse action against a person.
(c) For the purposes of [State] law, actions related to cannabis are considered lawful as long as they are in accordance with this chapter.
Section 23. Cannabis Regulation Fund.
The Cannabis Regulation Fund is established consisting of fees collected and civil penalties imposed under this chapter. The department shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated.
Section 24. Cannabis excise tax.
(a) There is imposed a cannabis excise tax equal to 20 percent of the sales price of each sale in [State] of cannabis and cannabis products to a consumer. Sales to registered medical cannabis patients pursuant to a medical cannabis program are exempt from the tax imposed under this section.
(b) The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the consumer to the cannabis establishment. Each cannabis establishment shall collect from the consumer the full amount of the tax payable on each taxable sale.
(c) On the 15th day of each month, every cannabis establishment that sells cannabis to consumers shall pay the excise taxes due on the cannabis that the cannabis establishment sold in the prior calendar month.
(d) The cannabis excise tax shall be separately itemized on the receipt provided to the purchaser.
Section 25. Cannabis local option tax.
(a) Any municipality may collect a cannabis local option tax of three percent of the sales price on each sale in [State] of cannabis and cannabis products to a consumer in the municipality. Sales to registered medical cannabis patients pursuant to a medical cannabis program are exempt from the tax imposed under this section.
(b) The cannabis local option tax may be adopted by a municipality that has: provided notice of the imposition and the amount to the [department of taxation] at least 90 days prior to the first day of the tax quarter when the cannabis local option tax will be collected.
(c) The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the consumer to the cannabis establishment. Each cannabis establishment shall collect from the consumer the full amount of the tax payable on each taxable sale.
(d) On the 15th day of each month, every cannabis establishment that sells cannabis to consumers shall pay the local option taxes due on the cannabis that the cannabis establishment sold in the prior calendar month.
(e) The tax imposed by this section is separate from and in addition to the cannabis excise tax authorized under Section 26 of this title. The tax imposed by this section shall not be part of the sales price to which the cannabis excise tax applies. The cannabis local option tax shall be separately itemized from the cannabis excise tax on the receipt provided to the purchaser.
Section 26. Apportionment of revenue.
Revenues generated in excess of the amount needed to implement and enforce this act by the cannabis excise tax shall be distributed every three months as follows:
(a) Fifty percent shall be distributed to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, administered by the Office of Social Equity pursuant to section 14 (b);
(b) Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to the General Fund;
(c) Ten percent shall be distributed to the Social Equity Fund, administered by the Office of Social Equity pursuant to section 14 (b);
(d) Seven percent shall be distributed to the [State health department] for use in evidence-based, voluntary programs for the prevention or treatment of substance abuse;
(e) Three percent shall be distributed to the Cannabis Education and Technical Assistance Fund, administered by the Office of Social Equity pursuant to section 14 (b);
(f) Two percent shall be distributed to the [State health department] for a scientifically and medically accurate public education campaign educating youth and adults about the health and safety risks of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substances, including the risks of driving while impaired;
(g) Two percent shall be distributed to the [State health department] to fund diverse scientific, academic, or medical research on cannabis or endocannabinoids, including research exploring the benefits of cannabis, provided that all funded research data, results, and papers shall be released into the public domain and shall be published for free and open access by the public and by other researchers; and
(h) Up to one percent shall be distributed to the [State public safety department] to fund Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and drug recognition expert training. If the entire one percent is not needed for the training, any excess shall be distributed to the General Fund.
Section 27. Self-executing, severability, conflicting provisions.
All provisions of this chapter are severable, and, except where otherwise indicated in the text, shall supersede conflicting statutes, local charter, ordinance, or resolution, and other state and local provisions.
Section 28. Effective date.
This chapter shall take effect upon its approval.
Additional Sections That Will Vary Depending on State Law
A. Revising criminal laws, consider descheduling cannabis.
Existing laws prohibiting cannabis and paraphernalia need to be revised to remove penalties for the conduct that was made legal. At a minimum, the following should be included in the chapter with criminal penalties for drug offenses:
The possession, cultivation, harvest, display, distribution, packaging, processing, purchase, transportation, transfer, delivery, sale, storage, and consumption of cannabis as provided for in [section 2 to 28 of this bill] shall not constitute a violation of this chapter.
It is worth considering removing cannabis from the state’s schedule of controlled substances. However, doing so may require rewriting all existing prohibitions on conduct that remains illegal, such as illegal sales or large-scale cultivation.
B. Automatic expungement, penalty reduction, resentencing, and release.
States should reduce cannabis penalties for conduct that remains illegal. Many of the penalties will be vastly disproportionate. For example, first-offense possession of double the possession limit should be a civil offense to avoid harsh penalties for an inadvertent or minor violation. States should also reduce the penalties for illegal sales to ensure they are not disproportionate. For example, first-offense, lower-level sales should be a civil violation.
States should also include automatic expungement, along with resentencing and release for prior cannabis offenses. For immigration impacts, this language is preferred: “The conviction is dismissed, expunged, and vacated because the prior conviction is legally invalid due to procedural or substantive defect under the laws of the state of X and/or the United States Constitution.”
At a minimum, automatic expungement should include all cannabis offenses for conduct that was made legal or downgraded. For any offenses that are not automatically expunged, individuals should be able to petition for expungement and release. This standard can be used to determine if they will be erased: “The court shall consider the individual circumstances of each case and shall expunge the applicant’s record if it finds that doing so would be in the interests of justice, in light of the legalization of cannabis-related conduct and past racial disparities in the enforcement of cannabis laws.”
All petitions for expungement and release should be free and can be funded by some of the cannabis tax revenue.
We did not include model language for this piece because the precise language will vary by state.
C. Providing for decriminalization and education for those under 21, if the state has not already done so.
For example:
Possession of one ounce or less of cannabis by a person under the age of 21 is a civil offense punishable by forfeiture of the cannabis and completion of up to four hours of instruction in a drug awareness program. The parents or legal guardian of any offender under the age of 18 shall be notified of the offense and of available drug awareness programs, which shall be established by the [State youth, health, or education department]. The [State youth, health, or education department] shall set fees for the program sufficient to cover all costs of administering the program, which shall not exceed $100. If an offender fails within one year of such notice of the offense and available programs to complete a drug awareness program, a civil penalty of up to $150, up to 10 hours of community service, or both may be imposed.
If possession of paraphernalia is a crime in the state, it should either become legal or should also be decriminalized for minors.
D. Providing that medical cannabis provisions, if any, are not affected, and exempting medical cannabis from taxation.
For example:
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit any privileges or rights of a medical cannabis patient, primary caregiver, or medical cannabis establishment, under [State medical cannabis law].
The precise language should track the terms used in the state’s medical cannabis law. In addition, states may want to allow retailers to dispense cannabis to registered medical cannabis patients under 21 years of age. Medical cannabis should be explicitly exempted from cannabis taxes.
E. If the state has a medical cannabis law, consider providing for priority licensing for medical cannabis businesses.
Depending on the particulars, including if there is sufficient supply, it may be worth considering allowing medical cannabis businesses to begin sales to adult-use customers shortly after enactment, possibly at the same time as social equity applicants. If this approach is taken, the state should impose hefty licensing fees and levy taxes for the privilege of early sales and use that revenue for the Social Equity Fund.
F. Modifying the state’s forfeiture law to clearly exclude conduct allowed by the act.
Language will vary and will modify existing statutes.
G. Modifying driving under the influence law, if it penalizes having any metabolites of THC in one’s system.
Language will vary and will modify existing statutes.
H. Fixing state income tax so that business expenses are deductible, though they are not deductible at the federal level.
Language will vary and will modify existing statutes.
I. Penalizing passengers smoking cannabis in a moving vehicle.
Especially in states where passengers are not allowed to have an open container of alcohol, it may be advisable to also penalize passengers who smoke cannabis in a vehicle. If this is included, consider making an exception for hired vehicles where there is a divider between the driver and the passengers.