Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB386%20SUB1%20enr.htm&yr=2017&sesstype=RS&billtype=B&houseorig=S&i=386
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:06:13+00:00

Document:
AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new chapter, designated §16A-1-1, §16A-2-1, §16A-3-1, §16A-3-2, §16A-3-3, §16A-3-4, §16A-3-5, §16A-4-1, §16A-4-2, §16A-4-3, §16A-4-4, §16A-4-5, §16A-5-1, §16A-5-2, §16A-5-3, §16A-5-4, §16A-5-5, §16A-5-6, §16A-5-7, §16A-5-8, §16A-5-9, §16A-5-10, §16A-6-1, §16A-6-2, §16A-6-3, §16A-6-4, §16A-6-5, §16A-6-6, §16A-6-7, §16A-6-8, §16A-6-9, §16A-6-10, §16A-6-11, §16A-6-12, §16A-6-13, §16A-7-1, §16A-7-2, §16A-7-3, §16A-7-4, §16A-7-5, §16A-7-6, §16A-8-1, §16A-8-2, §16A-8-3, §16A-9-1, §16A-9-2, §16A-10-1, §16A-10-2, §16A-10-3, §16A-10-4, §16A-10-5, §16A-10-6, §16A-11-1, §16A-11-2, §16A-12-1, §16A-12-2, §16A-12-3, §16A-12-4, §16A-12-5, §16A-12-6, §16A-12-7, §16A-12-8, §16A-12-9, §16A-13-1, §16A-13-2, §16A-13-3, §16A-13-4, §16A-13-5, §16A-13-6, §16A-13-7, §16A-13-8, §16A-14-1, §16A-14-2, §16A-14-3, §16A-15-1, §16A-15-2, §16A-15-3, §16A-15-4, §16A-15-5, §16A-15-6, §16A-15-7, §16A-15-8, §16A-15-9 and §16A-16-1, all relating to medical cannabis generally; authorizing, under limited conditions, the use, possession, growing, processing and dispensing of cannabis for serious medical conditions; creating the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act; defining terms; establishing medical cannabis program; placing the medical cannabis program within the Department of Health and Human Resources and under the direction of the Bureau for Public Health; listing duties of the Bureau for Public Health in the implementation and administration of the medical cannabis program; establishing lawful use and forms of medical cannabis; ensuring patient confidentiality; designating certain records as public records; authorizing reciprocity agreements to allow terminally ill cancer patients to obtain medical cannabis in other states; requiring registration of physicians who may issue certificates to patients allowing them to obtain medical cannabis; establishing requirements for certified physicians; placing limits on physician practices related to medical cannabis; authorizing issuance of certificates to medical cannabis patients and establishing conditions required for issuance of certificates; establishing limits on duration of certification and on amounts of medical cannabis which may be dispensed to a patient; authorizing issuance of identification cards to patients and caregivers and setting forth content of identification cards; establishing fees for patients, caregivers, physicians, growers, processors and dispensers; authorizing patients to have caregivers and establishing requirements for caregivers; requiring the Bureau for Public Health to verify information supplied by patients and caregivers; authorizing minors to obtain medical cannabis through caregivers and establishing qualifications for minors’ caregivers; prohibiting certain actions and behaviors by patients while they are using medical cannabis; authorizing and defining medical cannabis organizations; establishing permitting processes for growers, processors and dispensers of medical cannabis; requiring criminal background checks for caregivers, growers, processors and dispensers of medical cannabis; establishing terms for permits; authorizing renewal of permits and establishing requirements for renewal; authorizing the bureau to suspend or revoke permits of medical cannabis growers, processers and dispensers for violations; establishing limits on who may hold permits; establishing limits on who may hold positions or employment with growers, processors and dispensers; setting limits on number of permits that may be issued; requiring medical cannabis inventory tracking systems; requiring reporting by medical cannabis organizations; requiring rules for storage and transportation of medical cannabis; requiring medical cannabis organizations to contract with laboratories for testing of medical cannabis; requiring the bureau and the Department of Revenue to monitor the prices of medical cannabis; authorizing counties to prohibit medical cannabis organizations from being located within their county; establishing requirements for dispensaries; providing for imposition and collection of a tax; establishing the Medical Cannabis Program Fund; allocating monies placed in the fund; establishing the Office of Medical Cannabis within Bureau for Public Health; requiring reporting by medical cannabis organizations; authorizing the bureau to notify law enforcement of violations of the act; authorizing rulemaking; establishing the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board; establishing requirements for advisory board membership; establishing terms for advisory board members; establishing duties of the advisory board; establishing criminal offenses related to medical cannabis and setting penalties therefor; establishing confidentiality requirements for advisory board members and employees; authorizing civil penalties and setting amounts thereof for violations of the Medical Cannabis Act; authorizing research in medical cannabis by the bureau; authorizing Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to issue recommendations as to forms of cannabis use and other issues; authorizing the bureau to implement recommendations of the advisory board; requiring publication of bureau actions and decisions in the State Register; authorizing academic research regarding medical cannabis and its uses; establishing requirements to be an academic research institution; exempting medical cannabis manufacture, distribution, possession and processing in compliance with the act from the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act; limiting persons who may hold an interest in medical cannabis organizations or employment thereby; clarifying that insurance companies are not required to provide medical cannabis coverage; limiting the arrest, prosecution, imposition of penalty, denial of any right or privilege for lawful use, manufacture, sale or dispensing of medical cannabis; requiring the Department of Education to promulgate rules regarding possession and use of medical cannabis in schools; requiring the bureau to promulgate rules regarding possession and use of medical cannabis in daycare centers; authorizing zoning restrictions on medical cannabis organizations; requiring notice to the bureau of zoning restrictions; requiring publication in the State Register of permits and authorizations issued; requiring issuance of permits and authorizations only after publication of same in the State Register; and establishing effective dates.
chapter 16a. medical CANNABIS act.
This chapter is in honor of James William “Bill” Flanigan and Lucile Gillespie and shall be known and cited as the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act.
(1) “Act” means the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act and the provisions contained in chapter sixty-a of this code.
(2) “Advisory board” means the advisory board established under article eleven of this chapter.
(3) “Bureau” mean the Bureau for Public Health within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
(4) “Caregiver” means the individual designated by a patient or, if the patient is under eighteen years of age, an individual under article five, to deliver medical cannabis.
(5) “Certified medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use or transportation of medical cannabis by a patient, or the acquisition, possession, delivery, transportation or administration of medical cannabis by a caregiver, for use as part of the treatment of the patient’s serious medical condition, as authorized in a certification under this act, including enabling the patient to tolerate treatment for the serious medical condition.
(6) “Change in control” means the acquisition by a person or group of persons acting in concert of a controlling interest in an applicant or permittee either all at one time or over the span of a 12-consecutive-month period.
(7) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health.
(8) “Continuing care” means treating a patient for at least six months, in the course of which the practitioner has completed a full assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition, including an in-person consultation with the patient, and is able to document and make a medical diagnosis based upon the substantive treatment of the patient.
(A) For a publicly traded entity, voting rights that entitle a person to elect or appoint one or more of the members of the board of directors or other governing board or the ownership or beneficial holding of five percent or more of the securities of the publicly traded entity.
(B) For a privately held entity, the ownership of any security in the entity.
(10) “Dispensary” means a person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit issued by the bureau to dispense medical cannabis. The term does not include a health care medical cannabis organization under article thirteen of this chapter.
(11) “Family or household member” means the same as defined in section two hundred four, article twenty-seven, chapter forty-eight of this code.
(12) “Financial backer” means an investor, mortgagee, bondholder, note holder or other source of equity, capital or other assets, other than a financial institution.
(13) “Financial institution” means a bank, a national banking association, a bank and trust company, a trust company, a savings and loan association, a building and loan association, a mutual savings bank, a credit union or a savings bank.
(14) “Form of medical cannabis” means the characteristics of the medical cannabis recommended or limited for a particular patient, including the method of consumption and any particular dosage, strain, variety and quantity or percentage of medical cannabis or particular active ingredient.
(15) “Fund” means the Medical Cannabis Program Fund established in section two, article nine of this chapter.
(16) “Grower” means a person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit from the bureau under this act to grow medical cannabis. The term does not include a health care medical cannabis organization under article thirteen of this chapter.
(17) “Grower/processor” means either a grower or a processor.
(18) “Identification card” means a document issued under article five of this chapter that authorizes access to medical cannabis under this act.
(19) “Individual dose” means a single measure of medical cannabis.
(20) “Medical cannabis” means cannabis for certified medical use as set forth in this act.
(21) “Medical cannabis organization” means a dispensary, grower or processor. The term does not include a health care medical cannabis organization under article thirteen of this chapter.
(C) is a resident of this state.
(23) “Permit” means an authorization issued by the bureau to a medical cannabis organization to conduct activities under this act.
(24) “Physician” means a doctor of allopathic or osteopathic medicine who is fully licensed pursuant to the provisions of either article three or article fourteen, chapter thirty of this code to practice medicine and surgery in this state.
(25) “Post-traumatic stress disorder” means a diagnosis made as part of continuing care of a patient by a medical doctor, licensed counselor or psychologist.
(26) “Practitioner” means a physician who is registered with the bureau under article four of this chapter.
(27) “Prescription drug monitoring program” means the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring program under article nine, chapter sixty-a of this code.
(28) “Principal” means an officer, director or person who directly owns a beneficial interest in or ownership of the securities of an applicant or permittee, a person who has a controlling interest in an applicant or permittee or who has the ability to elect the majority of the board of directors of an applicant or permittee or otherwise control an applicant or permittee, other than a financial institution.
(29) “Processor” means a person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit from the bureau under this act to process medical cannabis. The term does not include a health care medical cannabis organization under article thirteen of this chapter.
(30) “Registry” means the registry established by the bureau for practitioners.
(B) Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
(F) Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity.
(N) Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective as determined as part of continuing care.
(32) “Terminally ill” means a medical prognosis of life expectancy of approximately one year or less if the illness runs its normal course.
article 3. medical cannabis program.
(1) Issue permits to medical cannabis organizations to authorize them to grow, process or dispense medical cannabis and ensure their compliance with this act.
(2) Register practitioners and ensure their compliance with this act.
(3) Have regulatory and enforcement authority over the growing, processing, sale and use of medical cannabis in this state.
(A) Ensurance that medical cannabis is not diverted or otherwise used for unlawful purposes by a practitioner or medical cannabis organization.
(B) Ability to establish the authenticity of identification cards.
(C) Recording recommended forms of medical cannabis provided in a certification filed by the practitioner.
(D) Monitoring all growth, transfer, possession, processing, testing and dispensing of medical cannabis in this state.
(E) The tracking system under article seven of this chapter must include information under section one, article eight of this chapter and any other information required by the bureau to be used by the bureau and dispensaries to enable a dispensary to lawfully provide medical cannabis. The tracking system and database shall be capable of providing information in real time. The database shall be capable of receiving information from a dispensary regarding the disbursement of medical cannabis to patients and caregivers. This information shall be immediately accessible to the bureau and other dispensaries to inhibit diversion and ensure compliance with this act.
(5) Maintain a directory of patients and caregivers approved to use or assist in the administration of medical cannabis within the bureau’s database.
(A) The State Board of Medicine.
(B) The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
(A) Methods to recognize and report unauthorized activity, including diversion of medical cannabis for unlawful purposes and falsification of identification cards.
(B) Proper handling of medical cannabis and recordkeeping.
(C) Any other subject required by the bureau.
(8) Develop enforcement procedures, including announced and unannounced inspections of facilities of the grower/processors and dispensaries and all records of the medical cannabis organizations.
(9) Establish a program to authorize the use of medical cannabis to conduct medical research relating to the use of medical cannabis to treat serious medical conditions, including the collection of data and the provision of research grants.
(A) A dedicated telephone number for patients, caregivers and members of the public to obtain basic information about the dispensing of medical cannabis under this act.
(B) A publicly accessible Internet website with similar information.
(11) Collaborate as necessary with other state agencies or contract with third parties as necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
(12) Determine the number and type of medical cannabis products to be produced by a grower/processor and dispensed by a dispensary.
(13) Develop recordkeeping requirements for all books, papers, any electronic database or tracking system data and other information of a medical cannabis organization. Information shall be retained for a minimum period of four years unless otherwise provided by the bureau.
(14) Restrict the advertising and marketing of medical cannabis, which shall be consistent with the Federal rules and regulations governing prescription drug advertising and marketing.
(b) The bureau shall propose rules for legislative promulgation pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code as may be necessary to carry out and implement the provisions of this act. The bureau shall also have the power to propose and promulgate emergency rules as may be necessary to carry out and implement the provisions of this act.
§16A-3-2. Lawful use of medical cannabis.
(B) a caregiver who is in possession of a valid identification card issued by the bureau.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in rules adopted by the bureau under section two, article eleven of this chapter, medical cannabis may not be dispensed to a patient or a caregiver in dry leaf or plant form.
(4) An individual may not act as a caregiver for more than five patients.
(5) A patient may designate up to two caregivers at any one time.
(6) Medical cannabis that has not been used by the patient shall be kept in the original package in which it was dispensed.
(7) A patient or caregiver shall possess an identification card whenever the patient or caregiver is in possession of medical cannabis.
(8) Products packaged by a grower/processor or sold by a dispensary shall only be identified by the name of the grower/processor, the name of the dispensary, the form and species of medical cannabis, the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol contained in the product.
§16A-3-3. Unlawful use of medical cannabis.
(a) Except as provided in section two of this article, section four of article seven, article thirteen or article fourteen of this chapter, the use of medical cannabis is unlawful and shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be deemed a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act under chapter sixty-a of this code.
(2) Except as provided under subsection (c), incorporate medical cannabis into edible form or sell in edible form.
(3) Grow medical cannabis unless the grower/processor has received a permit from the bureau under this act.
(4) Grow or dispense medical cannabis unless authorized as a health care medical cannabis organization under article thirteen of this chapter.
(5) Dispense medical cannabis unless the dispensary has received a permit from the bureau under this act.
(c) Edible medical cannabis. — Nothing in this act shall be construed to preclude the incorporation of medical cannabis into edible form by a patient or a caregiver in order to aid ingestion of the medical cannabis by the patient.
(1) Individual identifying information about patients and caregivers.
(2) Certifications issued by practitioners.
(3) Information on identification cards.
(4) Information provided by the West Virginia State Police under section two, article five of this chapter.
(5) Information relating to the patient’s serious medical condition.
(1) Applications for permits submitted by medical cannabis organizations.
(2) The names, business addresses and medical credentials of practitioners authorized to provide certifications to patients to enable them to obtain and use medical cannabis in this state. All other practitioner registration information shall be confidential and exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
(3) Information relating to penalties or other disciplinary actions taken against a medical cannabis organization or practitioner by the bureau for violation of this act.
§16A-3-5. Reciprocity for terminally ill cancer patients.
The bureau may enter into reciprocity agreements with any states that have comparable requirements for the use and lawful purchase of medical cannabis in a manner consistent with the provisions of this article to allow terminally ill cancer patients to purchase medical cannabis in another state.
(1) A physician must apply for registration in the form and manner required by the bureau.
(2) The bureau must determine that the physician is, by training or experience, qualified to treat a serious medical condition. The physician shall provide documentation of credentials, training or experience as required by the bureau.
(3) The physician must have successfully completed the course under subsection (a), section one, article three of this chapter.
(1) The bureau shall review an application submitted by a physician to determine whether to include the physician in the registry. The review shall include information regarding whether the physician has a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended license to practice medicine in this state and whether the physician has been subject to discipline.
(2) The inclusion of a physician in the registry shall be subject to annual review to determine if the physician’s license is no longer valid, has expired or been revoked or the physician has been subject to discipline. If the license is no longer valid, the bureau shall remove the physician from the registry until the physician holds a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended state license to practice medicine in West Virginia.
(3) The West Virginia Board of Medicine and West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall report to the bureau the expiration, suspension or revocation of a physician’s license and any disciplinary actions in a timely fashion.
(1) The patient no longer has the serious medical condition for which the certification was issued.
(2) Medical cannabis would no longer be therapeutic or palliative.
(3) The patient has died.
(1) A practitioner may not accept, solicit or offer any form of remuneration from or to a prospective patient, patient, prospective caregiver, caregiver or medical cannabis organization, including an employee, financial backer or principal, to certify a patient, other than accepting a fee for service with respect to the examination of the prospective patient to determine if the prospective patient should be issued a certification to use medical cannabis.
(2) A practitioner may not hold a direct or economic interest in a medical cannabis organization.
(3) A practitioner may not advertise the practitioner’s services as a practitioner who can certify a patient to receive medical cannabis.
(b) Unprofessional conduct. — A practitioner who violates subsection (a) of this section shall not be permitted to issue certifications to patients and shall be removed from the registry.
(c) Discipline. — In addition to any other penalty that may be imposed under this act, a violation of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (f), section three of this article shall be deemed unprofessional conduct under the West Virginia Medical Practice Act, and shall subject the practitioner to discipline by the West Virginia Board of Medicine and West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine, as appropriate.
(1) The practitioner has been approved by the bureau for inclusion in the registry and has a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended license to practice medicine in this state at the time of the issuance of the certification.
(2) The practitioner has determined that the patient has a serious medical condition and has included the condition in the patient’s health care record.
(3) The patient is under the practitioner’s continuing care for the serious medical condition.
(4) In the practitioner’s professional opinion and review of past treatments, the practitioner determines the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the use of medical cannabis, and other treatments, including treatments involving opioids, have proven ineffective or otherwise are contraindicated.
(1) The patient’s name, date of birth and address.
(2) The specific serious medical condition of the patient.
(3) A statement by the practitioner that the patient has a serious medical condition and the patient is under the practitioner’s continuing care for the serious medical condition.
(4) The date of issuance.
(5) The name, address, telephone number and signature of the practitioner.
(6) Any requirement or limitation concerning the appropriate form of medical cannabis and limitation on the duration of use, if applicable, including whether the patient is terminally ill.
(A) Issuing a certification to determine the controlled substance history of a patient.
(B) Recommending a change of amount or form of medical cannabis.
(2) The practitioner shall consider and give due consideration to other controlled substances the patient may be taking prior to certifying medical cannabis.
(1) Determine whether a patient may be under treatment with a controlled substance by another physician or other person.
(2) Allow the practitioner to review the patient’s controlled substance history as deemed necessary by the practitioner.
(3) Provide to the patient, or caregiver on behalf of the patient if authorized by the patient, a copy of the patient’s controlled substance history.
(1) Provide the certification to the patient.
(2) Provide a copy of the certification to the bureau, which shall place the information in the patient directory within the bureau’s electronic database. The bureau shall permit electronic submission of the certification.
(3) File a copy of the certification in the patient’s health care record.
(f) Prohibition. — A practitioner may not issue a certification for the practitioner’s own use or for the use of a family or household member.
The bureau shall develop a standard certification form, which shall be available to practitioners upon request. The form shall be available electronically. The form shall include a statement that a false statement made by a practitioner is punishable under the applicable provisions of law.
Receipt of medical cannabis by a patient or caregiver from a dispensary may not exceed a 30-day supply of individual doses. During the last seven days of any 30-day period during the term of the identification card, a patient may obtain and possess a 30-day supply for the subsequent 30-day period. Additional 30-day supplies may be provided in accordance with this section for the duration of the authorized period of the identification card unless a shorter period is indicated on the certification.
(a) Issuance. — The bureau may issue an identification card to a patient who has a certification approved by the bureau and to a caregiver designated by the patient. An identification card issued to a patient shall authorize the patient to obtain and use medical cannabis as authorized by this act. An identification card issued to a caregiver shall authorize the caregiver to obtain medical cannabis on behalf of the patient.
(1) Review and approval of applications for identification cards.
(2) Issuance of identification cards to patients and caregivers.
(3) Review of the certification submitted by the practitioner and the patient.
(1) The name, address and date of birth of the patient.
(2) The name, address and date of birth of a caregiver.
(3) The certification issued by the practitioner.
(4) The name, address and telephone number of the practitioner and documentation from the practitioner that all of the requirements of subsection (a), section three, article four of this chapter have been met.
(5) A $50 processing fee. The bureau may waive or reduce the fee if the applicant demonstrates financial hardship.
(6) The signature of the applicant and date signed.
(7) Other information required by the bureau.
(d) Forms. — Application and renewal forms shall be available on the bureau’s publicly accessible Internet website.
(e) Expiration. — An identification card of a patient or caregiver shall expire within one year from the date of issuance, upon the death of the patient, or as otherwise provided in this section.
(f) Separate cards to be issued. — The bureau shall issue separate identification cards for patients and caregivers as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving completed applications, unless it determines that an application is incomplete or factually inaccurate, in which case it shall promptly notify the applicant.
(g) Change in name or address. — A patient or caregiver who has been issued an identification card shall notify the bureau within ten days of any change of name or address. In addition, the patient shall notify the bureau within ten days if the patient no longer has the serious medical condition noted on the certification.
(h) Lost or defaced card. — In the event of a lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible identification card, the patient or caregiver shall apply to the bureau within ten business days of discovery of the loss or defacement of the card for a replacement card. The application for a replacement card shall be on a form furnished by the bureau and accompanied by a $25 fee. The bureau may establish higher fees for issuance of second and subsequent replacement identification cards. The bureau may waive or reduce the fee in cases of demonstrated financial hardship. The bureau shall issue a replacement identification card as soon as practicable. A patient or caregiver may not obtain medical cannabis until the bureau issues the replacement card.
(A) Federal and state criminal history record information as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.
(B) If the caregiver has an identification card for the caregiver or another patient, the expiration date of the identification card.
(C) Other information required by the bureau.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $50. The bureau may waive or reduce the fee in cases of demonstrated financial hardship.
(3) The bureau may require additional information for the application.
(4) The application shall be signed and dated by the applicant.
(b) Criminal history. — A caregiver shall submit fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record checks, and the West Virginia State Police or its authorized agent shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of the applicant and obtaining a current record of any criminal arrests and convictions. Any criminal history record information relating to a caregiver obtained under this section by the bureau may be interpreted and used by the bureau only to determine the applicant’s character, fitness and suitability to serve as a caregiver under this act. The bureau shall also review the prescription drug monitoring program relating to the caregiver. The bureau shall deny the application of a caregiver who has been convicted of a criminal offense that occurred within the past five years relating to the felony sale or possession of drugs, narcotics or controlled substances, or conspiracy thereof. The bureau may deny an application if the applicant has a history of drug abuse or of diverting controlled substances or illegal drugs.
An application for an identification card shall include notice that a false statement made in the application is punishable under the applicable provisions of law.
The bureau shall verify the information in a patient or caregiver’s application and on any renewal form.
(1) If the practitioner states in the certification that, in the practitioner’s professional opinion, the patient would benefit from medical cannabis only until a specified earlier date, then the identification card shall expire on that date.
(2) If the certification so provides, the identification card shall state any requirement or limitation by the practitioner as to the form of medical cannabis for the patient.
(1) The patient shall have a caregiver.
(A) A parent or legal guardian of the patient.
(B) An individual designated by a parent or legal guardian.
(C) An appropriate individual approved by the bureau upon a sufficient showing that no parent or legal guardian is appropriate or available.
§16A-5-7. Caregiver authorization and limitations.
(a) Age. — An individual who is under twenty-one years of age may not be a caregiver unless a sufficient showing, as determined by the bureau, is made to the bureau that the individual should be permitted to serve as a caregiver.
(b) Changing caregiver. — If a patient wishes to change or terminate the designation of the patient’s caregiver, for whatever reason, the patient shall notify the bureau as soon as practicable. The bureau shall issue a notification to the caregiver that the caregiver’s identification card is invalid and must be promptly returned to the bureau.
(c) Denial in part. — If an application of a patient designates an individual as a caregiver who is not authorized to be a caregiver, that portion of the application shall be denied by the bureau. The bureau shall review the balance of the application and may approve that portion of it.
§16A-5-8. Contents of identification card.
(1) The name of the caregiver or the patient, as appropriate. The identification card shall also state whether the individual is designated as a patient or as a caregiver.
(2) The date of issuance and expiration date.
(3) An identification number for the patient or caregiver, as appropriate.
(4) A photograph of the individual to whom the identification card is being issued, whether the individual is a patient or a caregiver. The method of obtaining the photograph shall be specified by the bureau by rule. The bureau shall provide reasonable accommodation for a patient who is confined to the patient’s home or is in inpatient care.
(5) Any requirement or limitation set by the practitioner as to the form of medical cannabis.
(6) Any other requirements determined by the bureau, except the bureau may not require that an identification card disclose the patient’s serious medical condition.
If a patient or caregiver intentionally, knowingly or recklessly violates any provision of this act as determined by the bureau, the identification card of the patient or caregiver may be suspended or revoked. The suspension or revocation shall be in addition to any criminal or other penalty that may apply.
article 6. medical cannabis organizations.
§16A-6-1. Authorized medical cannabis organizations.
(1) Verification of all principals, operators, financial backers or employees of a medical cannabis grower/processor or dispensary.
(2) A description of responsibilities as a principal, operator, financial backer or employee.
(3) Any release necessary to obtain information from governmental agencies, employers and other organizations.
(4) A criminal history record check. Medical cannabis organizations applying for a permit shall submit fingerprints of principals, financial backers, operators and employees to the West Virginia State Police for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record checks and the West Virginia State Police or its authorized agent shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of the principals, financial backers, operators and employees and obtaining a current record of any criminal arrests and convictions. Any criminal history record information relating to principals, financial backers, operators and employees obtained under this section by the bureau may be interpreted and used by the bureau only to determine the principal’s, financial backer’s, operator’s and employee’s character, fitness and suitability to serve as a principal, financial backer, operator and employee under this act. This subdivision shall not apply to an owner of securities in a publicly traded corporation if the bureau determines that the owner of the securities is not substantially involved in the activities of the medical cannabis organization.
(5) Details relating to a similar license, permit or other authorization obtained in another jurisdiction, including any suspensions, revocations or discipline in that jurisdiction.
(6) A description of the business activities in which it intends to engage as a medical cannabis organization.
(A) Is of good moral character. For purposes of this subparagraph, an applicant shall include each financial backer, operator, employee and principal of the medical cannabis organization.
(B) Possesses the ability to obtain in an expeditious manner the right to use sufficient land, buildings and other premises and equipment to properly carry on the activity described in the application and any proposed location for a facility.
(C) Is able to maintain effective security and control to prevent diversion, abuse and other illegal conduct relating to medical cannabis.
(D) Is able to comply with all applicable State laws and rules relating to the activities in which it intends to engage under this act.
(A) Any position of management or ownership during the preceding ten years of a controlling interest in any other business, located inside or outside this state, manufacturing or distributing controlled substances.
(B) Whether the person or business has been convicted of a criminal offense graded higher than a summary offense or has had a permit relating to medical cannabis suspended or revoked in any administrative or judicial proceeding.
(9) Any other information the bureau may require.
(b) Notice. — An application shall include notice that a false statement made in the application is punishable under the applicable provisions of law.
(1) The applicant will maintain effective control of and prevent diversion of medical cannabis.
(2) The applicant will comply with all applicable laws of this state.
(3) The applicant is a resident of this state, or is organized under the law of this state.
(4) The applicant is ready, willing and able to properly carry on the activity for which a permit is sought.
(5) The applicant possesses the ability to obtain in an expeditious manner sufficient land, buildings and equipment to properly grow, process or dispense medical cannabis.
(6) It is in the public interest to grant the permit.
(7) The applicant, including the financial backer or principal, is of good moral character and has the financial fitness necessary to operate.
(8) The applicant is able to implement and maintain security, tracking, recordkeeping and surveillance systems relating to the acquisition, possession, growth, manufacture, sale, delivery, transportation, distribution or the dispensing of medical cannabis as required by the bureau.
(9) The applicant satisfies any other conditions as determined by the bureau.
(b) Nontransferability. — A permit issued under this chapter shall be nontransferable.
(c) Privilege. — The issuance or renewal of a permit shall be a revocable privilege.
(2) The number of patients suffering from serious medical conditions.
(3) The types of serious medical conditions.
(4) Access to public transportation.
(5) Approval by local health departments.
(6) Whether the county has disallowed the location of a grower, processor or dispensary.
(7) Any other factor the bureau deems relevant.
When the boundaries under subsection (d), section three of this article are established, the bureau shall publish notice of the determination in the State Register. The bureau may adjust the boundaries as necessary every two years. Notice of any adjustment to the boundaries shall be published in the State Register.
(1) Report to the bureau any change in facts or circumstances reflected in the application or any newly discovered or occurring fact or circumstance which is required to be included in the application, including a change in control of the medical cannabis organization.
(2) Report to law enforcement, within twenty-four hours, any loss or theft of medical cannabis.
(3) Submit to announced or unannounced inspections by the bureau of the facilities for growing, processing, dispensing or selling medical cannabis, including all records of the organization.
(b) Additional information. — If the bureau is not satisfied that the applicant should be issued a permit, the bureau shall notify the applicant in writing of the factors for which further documentation is required. Within thirty days of the receipt of the notification, the applicant may submit additional material to the bureau.
§16A-6-6. Fees and other requirements.
(A) An initial application fee in the amount of $5,000 shall be paid. The fee is nonrefundable.
(B) A fee for a permit as a grower/processor in the amount of $50,000 shall be paid. The permit shall be valid for one year. Applicants shall submit the permit fee at the time of submission of the application. The fee shall be returned if the permit is not granted.
(C) A renewal fee for the permit as a grower/processor in the amount of $5,000 shall be paid and shall cover renewal for all locations. The renewal fee shall be returned if the renewal is not granted.
(D) An application to renew a permit must be filed with the bureau not more than six months nor less than four months prior to expiration.
(E) All fees shall be paid by certified check or money order.
(A) An initial application fee in the amount of $2,500 shall be paid. The fee is nonrefundable.
(B) A permit fee for a dispensary shall be $10,000 for each location. The period of the permit is one year. An applicant shall submit the permit fee at the time of submission of the application. The fee shall be returned if the application is not granted.
(C) A renewal fee for the permit as a dispensary in the amount of $2,500 shall be paid. The fee shall be returned if the renewal is not granted and shall cover renewal for all locations.
(3) A fee of $250 shall be required when amending the application to indicate relocation within this state or the addition or deletion of approved activities by the medical cannabis organization.
(4) Fees payable under this section shall be deposited into the fund.
(1) The name and address of the medical cannabis organization.
(2) The activities of the medical cannabis organization permitted under this act.
(3) The land, buildings, facilities or location to be used by the medical cannabis organization.
(4) Any other information required by the bureau.
The bureau may approve an application from a medical cannabis organization to relocate within this state or to add or delete activities or facilities.
A permit issued by the bureau shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
(1) Any material change in the information provided by the medical cannabis organization in a prior application or renewal of a permit.
(B) Compliance by the applicant with the laws of this state with respect to any substance listed under article two, chapter sixty-a of this code.
(1) The applicant is unlikely to maintain or be able to maintain effective control against diversion of medical cannabis.
(2) The applicant is unlikely to comply with all laws of this state applicable to the activities in which it may engage under the permit.
(c) Nonrenewal decision. — The denial or nonrenewal shall specify in detail how the applicant has not satisfied the bureau’s requirements for renewal. Within thirty days of the bureau’s decision, the applicant may submit additional material to the bureau or demand a hearing, or both. If a hearing is demanded, the bureau shall fix a date as soon as practicable.
(1) The bureau has evidence that the medical cannabis organization has failed to maintain effective control against diversion of medical cannabis.
(2) The organization violates any provision of this act or a rule of the bureau.
(3) The organization has intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently failed to comply with applicable laws of this State relating to medical cannabis.
(b) If an individual seeking to hold a volunteer position or position with remuneration in or be affiliated with a dispensary is otherwise prohibited under subsection (a) of this section, such individual may seek a waiver from the bureau in order to hold such a position with a dispensary. The allowance of the waiver, including any additional restrictions or conditions as part of the waiver, shall be in the discretion of the bureau.
(1) The bureau may not issue permits to more than ten growers: Provided, That each grower may have up to two locations per permit.
(2) The bureau may not issue permits to more than ten processors.
(3) The bureau may not issue permits to more than thirty dispensaries, with no more than five in any region.
(4) The bureau may not issue more than two individual dispensary permits to one person.
(5) The bureau may not issue more than one individual grower permit to one person.
(6) The bureau may not issue more than one individual processor permit to one person.
(7) A dispensary may only obtain medical cannabis from a grower or processor holding a valid permit under this act.
(8) A grower or processor may only provide medical cannabis to a dispensary holding a valid permit under this act.
(9) A grower or a processor may not be a dispensary.
(1) A written approval from the Board of Health for the county in which the permit is to be located and operate business.
(2) A written statement from the county commission for the county in which the permit is to be located and conduct business that the County has not voted, pursuant to section six, article seven of this chapter to disapprove a medical cannabis organization to be located or operate within the county.
article 7. medical cannabis controls.
(1) For a grower or processor, a seed-to-sale tracking system that tracks the medical cannabis from seed to plant until the medical cannabis is sold to a dispensary.
(2) For a dispensary, medical cannabis from purchase from the grower/processor to sale to a patient or caregiver and that includes information that verifies the validity of an identification card presented by the patient or caregiver.
(3) For a medical cannabis organization, a daily log of each day’s beginning inventory, acquisitions, amounts purchased and sold, disbursements, disposals and ending inventory. The tracking system shall include prices paid and amounts collected from patients and caregivers.
(4) For a medical cannabis organization, a system for recall of defective medical cannabis.
(5) For a medical cannabis organization, a system to track the plant waste resulting from the growth of medical cannabis or other disposal, including the name and address of any disposal service.
(2) Recordkeeping and record retention.
(3) The acquisition, possession, growing and processing of medical cannabis.
(4) Delivery and transportation, including amounts and method of delivery.
(5) Dispensing, including amounts, pricing and amounts collected from patients and caregivers.
(c) Access. — (1) Information maintained in electronic tracking systems under subsection (a) of this section shall be confidential and not subject to public disclosure under chapter twenty-nine-b of this code.
(2) Pursuant to conditions and procedures established by the bureau, law enforcement shall be provided access to the tracking system.
(1) The amount of medical cannabis sold by a grower and a processor during each three-month period.
(2) The price of amounts of medical cannabis sold by growers and processors as determined by the bureau.
(3) The amount of medical cannabis purchased by each dispensary in this state.
(4) The cost of amounts of medical cannabis to each dispensary in amounts as determined by the bureau.
(5) The total amount and dollar value of medical cannabis sold by each dispensary in the three-month period.
(1) Obtain seed from outside this state to initially grow medical cannabis.
(2) Obtain seed and plant material from another grower/processor within this state to grow medical cannabis.
(2) Is located within this state.
(1) Requirements relating to shipping containers and packaging.
(2) The manner in which trucks, vans, trailers or other carriers will be secured.
(3) Security systems that include a numbered seal on the trailer.
(4) Obtaining copies of drivers’ licenses and registrations and other information related to security and tracking.
(5) Use of GPS systems.
(6) Number of drivers or other security required to ensure against storage or in-transit losses.
(7) Recordkeeping for delivery and receipt of medical cannabis products.
(8) Requirements to utilize any electronic tracking system required by the bureau.
(9) Transporting medical cannabis to a grower/processor, approved laboratory or dispensary.
A grower and processor shall contract with an independent laboratory to test the medical cannabis produced by the grower or processor. The bureau shall approve the laboratory and require that the laboratory report testing results in a manner as the bureau shall determine, including requiring a test at harvest and a test at final processing. The possession by a laboratory of medical cannabis shall be a lawful use.
The bureau and the Department of Revenue shall monitor the price of medical cannabis sold by growers, processors and by dispensaries, including a per-dose price. If the bureau and the Department of Revenue determine that the prices are unreasonable or excessive, the bureau may implement a cap on the price of medical cannabis being sold for a period of six months. The cap may be amended during the six-month period. If the bureau and the Department of Revenue determine that the prices become unreasonable or excessive following the expiration of a six-month cap, additional caps may be imposed for periods not to exceed six months.
A county may pass an ordinance by vote of the residents of the county to prohibit the operation or location of a medical cannabis organization within that particular county. A prohibition under this section shall remain in effect unless and until changed by a subsequent vote.
§16A-8-1. Dispensing to patients and caregivers.
(1) The name, address and any identification number assigned to the dispensary by the bureau.
(2) The name and address of the patient and caregiver.
(3) The date the medical cannabis was dispensed.
(4) Any requirement or limitation by the practitioner as to the form of medical cannabis for the patient.
(5) The form and the quantity of medical cannabis dispensed.
(b) Requirements. — A dispensary shall have a physician or a pharmacist onsite at all times during the hours the dispensary is open to receive patients and caregivers. A physician or a pharmacist shall, prior to assuming duties under this paragraph, successfully complete the course established in subsection (a), section one, article three of this chapter. A physician may not issue a certification to authorize patients to receive medical cannabis or otherwise treat patients at the dispensary.
(c) Filing with bureau. — Prior to dispensing medical cannabis to a patient or caregiver, the dispensary shall file the receipt information with the bureau utilizing the electronic tracking system. When filing receipts under this subsection, the dispensary shall dispose of any electronically recorded certification information as provided by rule.
(2) A form of medical cannabis prohibited by this act.
(e) Supply. — When dispensing medical cannabis to a patient or caregiver, the dispensary may not dispense an amount greater than a 30-day supply until the patient has exhausted all but a seven-day supply provided pursuant to section five, article four of this chapter.
(f) Verification. — Prior to dispensing medical cannabis to a patient or caregiver, the dispensary shall verify the information in subsections (e) and (g) of this section by consulting the electronic tracking system included in the bureau’s electronic database established under section one, article three of this chapter and the dispensary tracking system under section one, article seven of this chapter.
(g) Form of medical cannabis. — Medical cannabis dispensed to a patient or caregiver by a dispensary shall conform to any requirement or limitation set by the practitioner as to the form of medical cannabis for the patient.
(1) Lawful methods for administering medical cannabis in individual doses.
(2) Any potential dangers stemming from the use of medical cannabis.
(3) How to recognize what may be problematic usage of medical cannabis and how to obtain appropriate services or treatment for problematic usage.
(4) How to prevent or deter the misuse of medical cannabis by minors or others.
(5) Any other information as determined by the bureau.
(1) The information required to be included in the receipt provided to the patient or caregiver, as appropriate, by the dispensary.
(3) Any applicable date by which the medical cannabis should be used.
(5) The amount of individual doses contained within the package and the species and percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.
(6) A warning that the medical cannabis must be kept in the original container in which it was dispensed.
(7) A warning that unauthorized use is unlawful and will subject the person to criminal penalties.
(8) Any other information required by the bureau.
(1) A dispensary may only dispense medical cannabis in an indoor, enclosed, secure facility located within this state, as determined by the bureau.
(2) A dispensary may not operate on the same site as a facility used for growing and processing medical cannabis.
(3) A dispensary may not be located within one thousand feet of the property line of a public, private or parochial school or a daycare center.
(4) A dispensary may, pursuant to bureau conditions and limitations, sell medical devices and instruments which are needed to administer medical cannabis under this act.
(b) Adjustment or waiver of prohibition. — The bureau may amend a prohibition under subsection (a)(3) of this section if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the amendment is necessary to provide adequate access to patients. An amendment may include additional security, physical plant of a facility or other conditions necessary to protect children.
A dispensary shall post a copy of its permit in a location within its facility in a manner that is easily observable by patients, caregivers, law enforcement officers and agents of the bureau.
article 9. tax on medical cannabis.
§16A-9-1. Tax on medical cannabis.
(a) Tax imposed. — A tax is imposed on the gross receipts of a grower/processor received from the sale of medical cannabis by a grower/processor to a dispensary, to be paid by the grower/processor, at the rate of ten percent. The tax shall be charged against and be paid by the grower/processor and shall not be added as a separate charge or line item on any sales slip, invoice, receipt or other statement or memorandum of the price paid by a dispensary, patient or caregiver.
(b) Payment of tax and reports. — A grower/processor shall make quarterly payments under this section for each calendar quarter at the rate prescribed in subsection (a) on the gross receipts for the calendar quarter. The tax shall be due and payable on the 20th day of January, April, July and October for the preceding calendar quarter on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue.
(c) Deposit of proceeds. — All money received from the tax imposed under subsection (a) shall be deposited into the fund.
(d) Exemption. — Medical cannabis shall not be subject to a sales tax.
(e) Information. — A grower/processor that sells medical cannabis shall provide to the Department of Revenue information required by the bureau.
§16A-9-2. Medical Cannabis Program Fund.
(a) Fund established. — The Medical Cannabis Program Fund is established as a special fund in the State Treasury. Money in the fund is appropriated as set forth in subsection (c) of this section. Any amount unspent at the end of a fiscal year shall be appropriated to the bureau for its operations.
(b) Source of funds. — Fees and taxes payable under this act shall be deposited into the fund. The money deposited into the fund may only be used for the purposes set forth in this section. Any interest accrued shall be deposited into the fund.
(1) Fifty-five percent of the revenue in the fund shall be allocated to the bureau.
(A) Fifty percent shall be allocated to the Fight Substance Abuse Fund created by section eight, article nine, chapter sixty-a of the code.
(B) Forty percent shall be allocated to the Division of Justice and Community Services, for grants to local law enforcement agencies for training, drug diversion, and other programs focused on crime and addiction, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of article nine-a, chapter fifteen of this code.
(C) Ten percent shall be allocated to the fund created in section four, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty, to be used for law enforcement professional training and professional development programs.
The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health may establish and create an Office of Medical Cannabis within the bureau to assist in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this act.
§16A-10-2. Reports by medical cannabis organizations.
A medical cannabis organization shall periodically file reports related to its activities. The bureau shall determine the information required in and the frequency of filing the reports.
Notwithstanding any provision of this act or any other law to the contrary, the bureau may notify any appropriate law-enforcement agency of information relating to any violation or suspected violation of this act. In addition, the bureau shall verify to law-enforcement personnel in an appropriate case whether a certification, permit, registration or an identification card is valid, including release of the name of the patient.
The bureau may provide for an analysis and evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of this act. The bureau may enter into agreements with one or more persons for the performance of an evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of this act.
(2) The Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
(3) The Attorney General of the State.
(1) An assessment of the use of medical cannabis as a result of the enactment of this act.
(2) An assessment of the benefits and risks to patients using medical cannabis under this act, including adverse events.
(3) Recommendations for amendments to this act for reasons of patient safety or to aid the general welfare of the citizens of this state.
(a) Promulgation. — In order to facilitate the prompt implementation of this act, the bureau may promulgate emergency rules that shall expire not later than two years following the publication of the emergency rule.
(b) Expiration. — The bureau’s authority to adopt emergency rules under subsection (a) of this section shall expire two years after the effective date of this section. Rules adopted after this period shall be promulgated as provided by law.
(c) Publication. — The bureau shall begin publishing emergency rules in the State Register no later than six months after the effective date of this section.
article 11. medical cannabis advisory board.
(1) The commissioner or a designee.
(2) The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police or a designee.
(4) One pharmacist licensed to practice in the state, to be designated by the Board of Pharmacy.
(5) One pharmacologist who has experience in the science of cannabis and a knowledge of the uses, effects, and modes of actions of drugs, to be appointed by the Governor.
(6) One member who is a horticulturalist, to be designated by the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.
(7) One member designated by the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Counselors.
(8) An attorney licensed in the state who is knowledgeable about medical cannabis laws.
(9) One member appointed by the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute.
(10) One member appointed by the Governor, who shall be a patient, a family or household member of a patient or a patient advocate.
(b) Terms. — Except as provided under subsection (g) of this section, the members shall serve a term of four years or until a successor has been appointed and qualified, but no longer than six months beyond the four-year period.
(c) Chair. — The commissioner, or a designee, shall serve as chair of the advisory board.
(d) Voting; quorum. — A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of organizing the advisory board, conducting its business and fulfilling its duties. A vote of the majority of the members present shall be sufficient for all actions of the advisory board unless the bylaws require a greater number.
(e) Attendance. — A member of the advisory board who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall be deemed vacant, unless the commissioner, upon written request from the member, finds that the member should be excused from a meeting for good cause. A member who cannot be physically present may attend meetings via electronic means, including video conference.
(f) Governance. — The advisory board shall have the power to prescribe, amend and repeal bylaws governing the manner in which the business of the advisory board is conducted and the manner in which the duties granted to it are fulfilled. The advisory board may delegate supervision of the administration of advisory board activities to an administrative commissioner and other employees of the bureau as the commissioner shall appoint.
(g) Initial terms. — The initial terms of members appointed under shall be for terms of one, two, three or four years, the particular term of each member to be designated by the commissioner at the time of appointment. All other members shall serve for a term of four years.
(h) Vacancy. — In the event that any member appointed under subsection (a) of this section shall die or resign or otherwise become disqualified during the member’s term of office, a successor shall be appointed in the same way and with the same qualifications as set forth in this section and shall hold office for the unexpired term. An appointed member of the advisory board shall be eligible for reappointment.
(i) Expenses. — A member shall receive the amount of reasonable travel, hotel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of the member in accordance with state rules, but shall receive no other compensation for the member’s service on the board.
(1) To examine and analyze the statutory and regulatory law relating to medical cannabis within this state.
(2) To examine and analyze the law and events in other states and the nation with respect to medical cannabis.
(3) To accept and review written comments from individuals and organizations about medical cannabis.
(4) To issue two years after the effective date of this section a written report to the Governor, the Senate and the House of Delegates.
(A) Whether to change the types of medical professionals who can issue certifications to patients.
(B) Whether to change, add or reduce the types of medical conditions which qualify as serious medical conditions under this act.
(C) Whether to change the form of medical cannabis permitted under this act.
(D) Whether to change, add or reduce the number of growers, processors or dispensaries.
(E) How to ensure affordable patient access to medical cannabis.
(F) Whether to permit medical cannabis to be dispensed in dry leaf or plant form, for administration by vaporization.
(6) The final written report under this section shall be adopted at a public meeting.
§16A-11-2. Rules based on recommendations of advisory board.
After receiving the report of the advisory board, at the discretion of the commissioner, the bureau may propose rules for legislative promulgation pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to effectuate recommendations made by the advisory board. The commissioner shall issue notice in the State Register within twelve months of the receipt of the report of the advisory board. The notice shall include the recommendations of the advisory board and shall state the specific reasons for the decision of the commissioner on whether or not to effectuate each recommendation.
article 12. offenses related to medical cannabis.
§16A-12-1. Criminal diversion of medical cannabis by practitioners.
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a practitioner who intentionally and knowingly certifies a person as being able to lawfully receive medical cannabis or who otherwise provides medical cannabis to a person who is not lawfully permitted to receive medical cannabis, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years.
§16A-12-2. Criminal diversion of medical cannabis.
(a) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any employee, financial backer, operator or principal of any qualifying entities who intentionally and knowingly sells, dispenses, trades, delivers or otherwise provides medical cannabis to a person who is not lawfully permitted to receive medical cannabis, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years.
(1) A medical cannabis organization.
(2) A health care medical cannabis organization or university participating in a research study under article thirteen of this chapter.
(3) A clinical registrant or academic clinical research center under article fourteen of this chapter.
(4) A laboratory utilized to test medical cannabis under section four, article seven of this chapter.
§16A-12-3. Criminal retention of medical cannabis.
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any patient or caregiver who intentionally and knowingly possesses, stores or maintains an amount of medical cannabis in excess of the amount legally permitted is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not more than six months.
§16A-12-4. Criminal diversion of medical cannabis by patient or caregiver.
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any patient or caregiver that intentionally and knowingly provides medical cannabis to a person who is not lawfully permitted to receive medical cannabis is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years.
§16A-12-5. Falsification of identification cards.
(3) possesses an identification card which contains any false information on the card and the person either attempts to use the card to obtain medical cannabis or obtains medical cannabis, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not more than twelve months.
§16A-12-6. Adulteration of medical cannabis.
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who adulterates, fortifies, contaminates or changes the character or purity of medical cannabis from that set forth on the patient’s or caregiver’s identification card, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years.
§16A-12-7. Disclosure of information prohibited.
(4) An employee of the bureau.
(b) Exception. — Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply where disclosure is permitted or required by law or by court order.
(B) The potential harm resulting from the violation to patients, caregivers or the general public.
(C) The willfulness of the violation.
(D) Previous violations, if any, by the person being assessed.
(E) The economic benefit to the person being assessed for failing to comply with the requirements of this act, a rule promulgated under this act or an order issued under this act or rule.
(2) If the bureau finds that the violation did not threaten the safety or health of a patient, caregiver or the general public and the violator took immediate action to remedy the violation upon learning of it, the bureau may issue a written warning in lieu of assessing a civil penalty.
(3) A person who aids, abets, counsels, induces, procures or causes another person to violate this act, a rule promulgated under this act or an order issued under this act or rule shall be subject to the civil penalties provided under this subsection.
(A) Revoke or suspend the permit of a person found to be in violation of this act, a rule promulgated under this act or an order issued under this act or rule.
(B) Revoke or suspend the permit of a person for conduct or activity or the occurrence of an event that would have disqualified the person from receiving the permit.
(C) Revoke or suspend the registration of a practitioner for a violation of this act or a rule promulgated or an order issued under this act or for conduct or activity which would have disqualified the practitioner from receiving a registration.
(D) Suspend a permit or registration of a person pending the outcome of a hearing in a case in which the permit or registration could be revoked.
(E) Order restitution of funds or property unlawfully obtained or retained by a permittee or registrant.
(F) Issue a cease and desist order.
(2) A person who aids, abets, counsels, induces, procures or causes another person to violate this act shall be subject to the sanctions provided under this subsection.
(c) Costs of action. — The bureau may assess against a person determined to be in violation of this act the costs of investigation of the violation.
(d) Minor violations. — Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the assessment of a civil penalty or the imposition of a sanction for a minor violation of this act if the bureau determines that the public interest will be adequately served under the circumstances by the issuance of a written warning.
(1) Undertaking any task under the influence of medical cannabis when doing so would constitute negligence, professional malpractice or professional misconduct.
(2) Possessing or using medical cannabis in a state correctional facility or Regional Jail Authority facility, including a facility owned or operated or under contract with the Bureau of Corrections or the Regional Jail Authority, which houses inmates serving a portion of their sentences on parole or other community correction program.
(3) Possessing or using medical cannabis in a youth detention center or other facility which houses children adjudicated delinquent, including the separate, secure state-owned facility or unit utilized for sexually violent delinquent children.
(1) “Health care medical cannabis organization”. A vertically integrated health system approved by the bureau to dispense medical cannabis or grow and process medical cannabis, or both, in accordance with a research study under this chapter.
(2) “Vertically integrated health system”. A health delivery system in which the complete spectrum of care, including primary and specialty care, hospitalization and pharmaceutical care, is provided within a single organization.
§16A-13-2. Establishment of medical cannabis research program.
(a) Program to be established. — The bureau shall establish and develop a research program to study the impact of medical cannabis on the treatment and symptom management of serious medical conditions. The program shall not include a clinical registrant or academic clinical research center under article fourteen of this chapter.
(1) Review all serious medical conditions which are cited by a practitioner upon the practitioner’s certification that a patient be granted an identification card.
(2) Create a database of all serious medical conditions, including comorbidities, which are cited by practitioners in the certifications of patients. The database shall also include the form of medical cannabis certified to treat each serious medical condition.
(3) When the database contains twenty-five or more patients with the same serious medical condition, petition the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for approval to study the condition and the impact of medical cannabis on the condition.
(4) Concurrent with the request to the United States Food and Drug Administration and United States Drug Enforcement Administration, publicly announce the formation of a research study to which a vertically integrated health system and a university within this state may submit a request to participate.
(5) Upon approval of a research study by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, select a vertically integrated health system or systems to conduct the research study and designate the form or forms of medical cannabis which will be used to treat the serious medical condition.
(B) where the patient may secure medical cannabis through a health care medical cannabis organization at no cost to the patient in accordance with subsection (c).
(7) If the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration reject the proposal for the research study, take all reasonable steps to collect and collate data on the serious medical condition and the use of medical cannabis as a treatment for the serious medical condition and consider submitting an additional request to the United States Food and Drug Administration and United States Drug Enforcement Administration for a research study on the same condition.
(c) Costs. — The cost of the medical cannabis which is dispensed to patients in accordance with an approved research study shall be paid for by the fund.
(d) Geographic accessibility. — The bureau shall take into consideration the geographic location of the health care medical cannabis organization when assigning a patient to a health care medical cannabis organization. The bureau shall make an effort to assign a patient to a health care medical cannabis organization that is located within fifty miles of the patient’s residence.
(e) Data. — Data collected by the health care medical cannabis organization shall be provided to the university participating in the research study for analysis.
§16A-13-3. Medical cannabis research program administration.
(1) Real time inventory tracking.
(2) Real time tracking of the medical cannabis dispensed.
(3) Recall of defective medical cannabis.
(1) The form or forms of medical cannabis to be studied.
(2) The serious medical condition to be studied.
(1) A vertically integrated health system shall report on the effectiveness of the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of the serious medical condition studied and all counterindications and noted side effects.
(2) The bureau shall notify the vertically integrated health system and the university participating in the research study of the data which is required to meet the United States Food and Drug Administration’s and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s approval for the research study.
(3) The first report, including the data required under subdivision (2), shall be submitted to the bureau and made publicly available within one hundred eighty days of the initiation of a research study for a specific serious medical condition.
(4) An annual report of the data required under subdivision (2) shall be submitted to the bureau beginning one year after the initiation of a research study for a specific serious medical condition and each year thereafter.
A vertically integrated health system located in this state may petition the bureau to participate in a research study to study a serious medical condition. Approval of the vertically integrated health system as a health care medical cannabis organization by the bureau shall authorize access within a region under subsection (d), section three, article six of this chapter to medical cannabis for all patients included in an approved research study.
(1) Maintain licensure with the bureau.
(2) Secure the medical cannabis within the associated pharmacies of the health care medical cannabis organization in a manner and method prescribed by the bureau.
(3) Keep a daily log of the medical cannabis dispensed and the research study with which the patient and the medical cannabis are associated. Reports shall be delivered to the bureau and the university participating in the research study on a weekly basis.
(4) Report the utilization rates of those patients participating in the research of medical cannabis and treatment options.
(5) Only dispense medical cannabis received from a grower, processor or a health care medical cannabis organization that is approved to grow and process medical cannabis.
(6) Provide all patients or caregivers with the safety insert, prepared by the bureau, which includes potential dangers, recognition and correction of problematic dosage and any other information required by the bureau or which the bureau deems relevant for patient safety.
(2) Only make available medical cannabis to health care medical cannabis organizations that dispense medical cannabis.
(3) Keep a daily log of medical cannabis intended for ultimate use by patients participating in a research study.
A health care medical cannabis organization may not participate in a research study of any kind, including the program established under this article, or dispense or grow and process medical cannabis if it has violated its licensure requirements or conditions.
(1) Real time inventory tracking, including a seed-to-dispensing tracking system that tracks medical cannabis from seed or immature plant stage until the medical cannabis is provided to a patient in a research study.
(2) Security, recordkeeping, record retention and surveillance systems relating to every stage of growing and processing medical cannabis.
(3) A daily log of each day’s beginning inventory, acquisitions, disbursements, disposals and ending inventory.
(4) A system to recall defective medical cannabis.
(5) A system to track the plant waste resulting from the growth of medical cannabis.
(6) Testing of medical cannabis by an independent laboratory to test the medical cannabis produced by the health care medical cannabis organization, including requiring a test at harvest and a test at final processing.
(7) Any other procedure deemed necessary by the bureau.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to create an entitlement or right of a patient to receive medical cannabis or to participate in a research study.
article 14. acAdemic clinical research centers.
(1) “Academic clinical research center” means an accredited medical school within this state that operates or partners with an acute care hospital licensed within this state.
(B) Has a contractual relationship with an academic clinical research center under which the academic clinical research center or its affiliate provides advice to the entity, regarding, among other areas, patient health and safety, medical applications and dispensing and management of controlled substances.
(1) A clinical registrant must pay the fees and meet all other requirements under this act for obtaining a permit as a grower, processor and a dispensary.
(2) The clinical registrant must comply with all other requirements of this act regarding growing, processing and dispensing medical cannabis.
(i) The reason for the research project, including the reason for the trial.
(ii) The strain of medical cannabis to be used and the strength of the medical cannabis to be used in the research study.
(iii) The anticipated duration of the study.
(iv) Evidence of approval of the trial by an accredited institutional review board, including any other required regulatory approvals.
(v) Other information required by the bureau, except that the bureau may not require disclosure of any information that would infringe upon the academic clinical research center’s exclusive right to intellectual property or legal obligations for patient confidentiality.
(2) The academic clinical research center shall provide its findings to the bureau within three hundred sixty-five days of the conclusion of the research study or within three hundred sixty-five days of publication of the results of the research study in a peer-reviewed medical journal, whichever is later.
(3) The bureau shall allow the exchange of medical cannabis seed between clinical registrants for the conduct of research.
The growth, processing, manufacture, acquisition, transportation, sale, dispensing, distribution, possession and consumption of medical cannabis permitted under this act shall not be deemed to be a violation of the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act under chapter sixty-a of this code. If a provision of Uniform Controlled Substance Act under chapter sixty-a relating to cannabis conflicts with a provision of this act, this act shall take precedence.
§16A-15-2. Financial and employment interests.
(a) Financial interests. — A public official, or an immediate family member thereof, shall not intentionally or knowingly hold a financial interest in a medical cannabis organization or in a holding company, affiliate, intermediary or subsidiary thereof, while the individual is a public official and for one year following termination of the individual’s status as a public official.
(b) Employment. — No public official, or an immediate family member thereof, shall be employed by a medical cannabis organization or by any holding company, affiliate, intermediary or subsidiary thereof, while the individual is a public official and for one year following termination of the individual’s status as a public official.
(c) For purposes of this section, “public official” and “immediate family” shall have the same definitions as those phrases are defined in section three, article one, chapter six-b of this code.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to require an insurer or a health plan, whether paid for by state funds or private funds, to provide coverage for medical cannabis.
(4) A medical cannabis organization.
(5) A health care medical cannabis organization or university participating in a research study under article thirteen of this chapter.
(6) A clinical registrant or academic clinical research center under article fourteen of this chapter.
(7) An employee, principal or financial backer of a medical cannabis organization.
(8) An employee of a health care medical cannabis organization or an employee of a university participating in a research study under article thirteen of this chapter.
(9) An employee of a clinical registrant or an employee of an academic clinical research center under article fourteen of this chapter.
(1) Possession and use of medical cannabis by a student on the grounds of a preschool, primary school and a secondary school.
(2) Possession and use of medical cannabis by an employee of a preschool, primary school and a secondary school on the grounds of such school.
(1) Possession and use of medical cannabis by a child under the care of a child-care or social service center licensed or operated by the Department of Health and Human Resources.
(2) Possession and use of medical cannabis by an employee of a child-care or social service center licensed or operated by the Department of Health and Human Resources.
(3) Possession and use of medical cannabis by employees of a youth development center or other facility which houses children adjudicated delinquent.
(1) A grower/processor shall meet the same municipal zoning and land use requirements as other manufacturing, processing and production facilities that are located in the same zoning district.
(2) A dispensary shall meet the same municipal zoning and land use requirements as other commercial facilities that are located in the same zoning district.
(3) A municipality may enact an ordinance prohibiting or limiting the number and type of medical cannabis organizations permitted to operate in the municipality, including the time, place, and manner of operation.
(a) A municipality that enacts a restrictive ordinance pursuant to section seven of this article, shall promptly notify the bureau of such action.
(b) A county commission shall notify the bureau if a county votes to prohibit allowance of a medical cannabis organization pursuant to section six, article seven of this chapter.
The issuance of permits and other authorizations shall begin upon publication of a notice by the bureau in the State Register that adequate emergency or permanent rules have been adopted to initiate the program under this act.
(a) Unless excepted in subsection (b) or (c), the provisions of this act shall be effective upon passage.
(b) The provisions of article twelve of this chapter, and any other criminal provisions or penalties contained in this act, shall not be effective until ninety days from passage of Senate Bill 386 during the 2017 regular session.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, no identification cards may be issued to patients until July 1, 2019. The Bureau may take sufficient steps through rule to implement the preliminary provisions in preparation for implementation of the provisions of this act.

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