RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Henry Aquino

SB 1064 enhances medical cannabis regulations, protecting patients, requiring licenses for cultivators, and empowering the Department of Health to enforce compliance.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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Purpose and Intent

Senate Bill 1064 (SB 1064) aims to amend existing regulations surrounding medical cannabis in the state. The bill seeks to enhance the framework for medical cannabis cultivation, distribution, and use, while also establishing clearer guidelines for penalties and compliance. It is designed to support patients who rely on medical cannabis for therapeutic purposes and to streamline the regulatory processes involved.

Key Provisions

SB 1064 includes several significant provisions:

Affirmative Defense: Establishes an affirmative defense for individuals charged with violations related to medical cannabis, providing legal protection under specific circumstances.

Licensure Requirements: Introduces new licensure requirements for cannabis cultivators, ensuring that only qualified entities can engage in the cultivation and distribution of medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis Registry: Enhances the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund, which is responsible for overseeing the registration of patients and caregivers, as well as the regulation of medical cannabis activities.

Cease and Desist Notices: Grants the Department of Health (DOH) the authority to issue cease and desist notices to entities that violate medical cannabis regulations.

Penalties for Violations: Specifies penalties for non-compliance with the new regulations, aiming to deter violations and ensure adherence to the law.

Affected Parties

The bill will primarily affect:

Patients: Individuals who use medical cannabis for therapeutic purposes will benefit from clearer regulations and protections.

Cannabis Cultivators: Entities involved in the cultivation and distribution of medical cannabis will face new licensure requirements and regulatory oversight.

Department of Health: The DOH will have expanded responsibilities in enforcing regulations and managing the Medical Cannabis Registry.

Procedural Timeline

Introduced: January 17, 2025

First Reading: January 21, 2025

Committee Referrals: Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM on January 23, 2025

Public Hearings: Multiple public hearings were held, with significant discussions on February 6, 11, and 12, 2025.

Amendments and Recommendations: The bill underwent several amendments and was recommended for passage by various committees, including HHS and CPN.

House Committee Recommendation: On March 12, 2025, the committee on HLT recommended that the measure be deferred.

Conclusion

SB 1064 represents a significant step towards refining the legal framework surrounding medical cannabis in the state. By establishing clearer guidelines and protections, the bill aims to enhance the accessibility and regulation of medical cannabis for patients while ensuring compliance among cultivators and distributors. The bill is currently deferred, pending further discussion and potential amendments.

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