Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) announced today at the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board’s monthly meeting that the long-awaited emergency rules needed to implement the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) will not be released until the end of this week. Attendees and live-stream viewers of the Board meeting were disappointed by the announcement, as many had expected the rules to be unveiled during the meeting. Andrew Brisbo, director of the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR), explained that the rules are still undergoing legal review at the Legislative Service Bureau and the Office of Regulatory Reinvention.
This slight delay comes after several months of furious work put into the rules by BMMR, which experienced staffing shortages during that time, according to statements made at today’s Board meeting. BMMR was established as a new division of LARA recently, in April 2017. Despite staffing shortages and the fact that the as-yet unreleased rules will dictate how applicants should apply for medical marihuana facility licenses from the State, BMMR stated that it will be ready to accept license applications on December 15, as planned. Board members also clarified that license application forms will be publicized early next week so that applicants can prepare the required materials in advance.
In addition to the delayed-rules announcement, the Board meeting featured a report by Kevin Sehlmeyer, Michigan’s State Fire Marshal, on fire safety requirements for medical marihuana facilities. Fire safety rules for facilities are forthcoming, as well.
As always, check back with Dykema’s Cannabis Law Blog for further updates.