Michigan House Scales Back Bill That Would’ve Given Medical Marijuana Licenses To Lawmakers’ Spouses

A bill in Michigan that initially would have allowed the spouses of elected officials obtain medical cannabis business licenses has been scaled back on the floor of the House of Representatives following a Marijuana Moment report on its original broad scope. The revised version now limits the exemption to those married to non-elected government officials. Prior to the change, the text was written in a way that would have broadly benefitted the families of lawmakers. Reform advocates criticized the proposal given ongoing prohibitions against people with prior drug convictions from participating in the market. A legislative analyst in the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency told Marijuana Moment that the legislation as introduced was written awkwardly and seemed to inadvertently open up licensing opportunities for the spouses of lawmakers. The revised version, which was approved by the House last week, still doesn’t change the drug conviction ban, but it does narrow the scope of the new exemption, only allowing the spouses of civil servants to participate. Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Julie Alexander (R), the spouses of government employees who work in agencies that are involved in regulating or setting policies for the state’s medical cannabis program will still be barred from obtaining licenses. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Legislators broadly supported the amended bill—approving it in a 100-9 vote—but advocates have expressed frustration that they appear to be prioritizing reforms that would help those in government while neglecting to push for a change to…

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Source : MJ moment
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