Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billtexts/SP071901.asp
Timestamp: 2014-07-23 03:43:48
Document Index: 584946265

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1117', '§1', '§148', '§156', '§1117', '§4', '§2422', '§4', '§5', '§2422', '§6', '§5', '§2422', '§6', '§2422', '§7', '§5', '§2422', '§8', '§5', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§2424', '§2', '§5', '§2425', '§1', '§5', '§2425', '§3', '§2425', '§4', '§5', '§2425', '§5', '§5', '§2425', '§7', '§5', '§2425', '§8', '§5', '§2425', '§8', '§2425', '§8', '§2425', '§8', '§2425', '§8', '§2425', '§8', '§2425', '§9', '§5', '§2426', '§1', '§5', '§2426', '§1', '§5', '§2428', '§5', '§5', '§2428', '§6', '§5']

SP0719LD 1811
LR 2611Item 1
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1117, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 383, §148 and affected by §156, is amended to read:1. A Except as provided in subsection 4, a person is guilty of cultivating marijuana if:A. The person intentionally or knowingly grows or cultivates marijuana. Violation of this paragraph is a Class E crime; or
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1117, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 4. A person is not guilty of cultivating marijuana if the conduct that constitutes cultivating is expressly authorized by Title 22, chapter 558-C.
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §2422, sub-§4, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:4. Felony drug offense. "Felony drug offense" means a conviction for a violation of a state or federal controlled substance law that was classified as a felony in the jurisdiction where the person was convicted is a crime punishable by imprisonment for one year or more. It does not include:A. An offense for which the sentence, including any term of probation, incarceration or supervised release, was completed 10 or more years earlier; or
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §2422, sub-§6, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:6. Nonprofit dispensary. "Nonprofit dispensary" means a not-for-profit entity registered under section 2428 that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, sells, supplies or dispenses marijuana or related supplies and educational materials to cardholders. A nonprofit dispensary is a primary caregiver.
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §2422, sub-§6-A is enacted to read: 6-A. Onsite assessment. "Onsite assessment" means a visit by an employee of the department to any site where marijuana is grown pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the requirements of this chapter pertaining to growing and distributing medical marijuana.
Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §2422, sub-§7, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:7. Physician. "Physician" means a person licensed as an osteopathic physician by the Board of Osteopathic Licensure pursuant to Title 32, chapter 36 or a person licensed as a physician or surgeon by the Board of Licensure in Medicine pursuant to Title 32, chapter 48 who is in good standing and who holds a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration license to prescribe drugs.
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §2422, sub-§8, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:8. Primary caregiver. "Primary caregiver" means a person who is at least 21 years of age who has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and who has never been convicted of a felony drug offense. Unless the primary caregiver is a nonprofit dispensary, the An employee of a hospice provider licensed under chapter 1681 or nursing facility licensed under chapter 405 providing care to an eligible patient may be substituted for a primary caregiver. A primary caregiver may assist no more than 5 qualifying patients with their medical use of marijuana.
Sec. 9. 22 MRSA §2423-A is enacted to read: § 2423-A. Authorized conduct by a cardholding qualifying patient or primary caregiver for the medical use of marijuana 1. Qualifying patient. Except as provided in section 2426, a qualifying patient who is a cardholder may, for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with this chapter: A. Possess up to 2 1/2 ounces of usable marijuana;
2. Primary caregiver. Except as provided in section 2426, a primary caregiver, including staff of a hospice provider licensed under chapter 1681 or nursing facility licensed under chapter 405, who is a cardholder, for the purpose of assisting a qualifying patient who is a cardholder and to whom the primary caregiver is connected through the department's registration process as provided in section 2425, may, for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with this chapter: A. Possess up to 2 1/2 ounces of usable marijuana for each qualifying patient to whom the primary caregiver is connected through the department's registration process;
4. Onsite assessments by the department. Prior to making an onsite assessment the department must: A. Provide 24 hours' notice to a qualifying patient who is a cardholder who has elected to cultivate up to 6 marijuana plants; and
Sec. 10. 22 MRSA §2423-B is enacted to read: § 2423-B. Authorized conduct by a physician A physician may for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with this chapter provide a written certification or, after having done so, otherwise state that, in the physician’s professional opinion, a patient is likely to receive therapeutic benefit from the medical use of marijuana to treat or alleviate the patient’s debilitating medical condition. Nothing in this chapter prevents a professional licensing board from sanctioning a physician for failing to properly evaluate or treat a patient’s medical condition or otherwise violating the applicable standard of care for evaluating or treating medical conditions.
Sec. 11. 22 MRSA §2423-C is enacted to read: § 2423-C. Authorized conduct by anyone for the medical use of marijuana A person may for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with this chapter:
Sec. 12. 22 MRSA §2423-D is enacted to read: § 2423-D. Authorized conduct by a visiting qualifying patient A visiting qualifying patient from another qualifying jurisdiction who possesses a valid registry identification card, or its equivalent, from that jurisdiction may, while in this State, engage in conduct authorized for a qualifying patient who is a cardholder pursuant to section 2423-A, subsection 1 without having to obtain a registry identification card issued by the department. For purposes of this section, "another qualifying jurisdiction" means the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and any state other than this State that allows the medical use of marijuana by a visiting qualifying patient from this State who is a cardholder.
Sec. 13. 22 MRSA §2423-E is enacted to read: § 2423-E. Prohibited acts against persons or entities engaged in authorized conduct for the medical use of marijuana 1. Rights of persons or entities acting pursuant to this chapter. A qualifying patient, primary caregiver, physician, nonprofit dispensary, principal officer, board member, agent or employee of a nonprofit dispensary or any other person covered under this chapter may not be denied any right or privilege, or be subjected to any penalty or disciplinary action, including but not limited to a civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for lawfully engaging in conduct for the medical use of marijuana authorized under this chapter.
Sec. 14. 22 MRSA §2424, sub-§2, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 2. Adding debilitating medical conditions. The commissioner shall establish, chair and staff an advisory board consisting of at least 8 health care practitioners representing various fields of practice, including but not limited to neurology, gastroenterology, pain management, medical oncology, psychiatry, infectious disease, hospice medicine, family medicine and gynecology. The practitioners must be national board-certified in their areas of specialty and knowledgeable about the medical use of marijuana. The advisory board must also include at least 2 members of the public, at least one of whom is a registered qualifying patient. The members must be chosen for appointment by the commissioner from a list proposed by the Maine Medical Association and the Maine Osteopathic Association or their successor organizations and from a list of individuals who have volunteered to serve on the advisory board. The advisory board shall: A. Review and recommend to the commissioner for approval additional debilitating medical conditions that would benefit from the medical use of marijuana;
Sec. 15. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:E. Name, address and date of birth of each primary caregiver, if any, of the qualifying patient. A qualifying patient may designate only one primary caregiver unless the qualifying patient is under 18 years of age and requires a parent to serve as a primary caregiver or the qualifying patient designates a nonprofit dispensary to cultivate marijuana for the qualifying patient’s medical use and the qualifying patient requests the assistance of a second caregiver to assist with the qualifying patient’s medical use . The staff of a hospice provider licensed under chapter 1681 or a nursing facility licensed under chapter 405 may be substituted for one primary caregiver, but is not permitted to grow marijuana for carrying out the purposes of this chapter; and
Sec. 16. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 3-A. Department revocation. The department may revoke a registry identification card for violation of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter. Revocation is considered a final agency action, subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested in the Superior Court.
Sec. 17. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§4, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:4. Primary caregiver registry identification card. The department shall issue a registry identification card to each primary caregiver, if any, who is named in a qualifying patient's approved application pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph E. Only one person may cultivate marijuana for the qualifying patient's medical use, who is determined based solely on the qualifying patient's preference , except when the staff of a hospice provider licensed under chapter 1681 or a nursing facility licensed under chapter 405 has been substituted. That person may either be the qualifying patient or one of the 2 primary caregivers.
Sec. 18. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§5, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:5. Registry identification card issuance. The department shall issue registry identification cards to qualifying patients and , to primary caregivers and to staff of hospice providers licensed under chapter 1681 and nursing facilities licensed under chapter 405 within 5 days of approving an application or renewal under this section. Registry identification cards expire one year after the date of issuance. Registry identification cards must contain:A. The name, address and date of birth of the qualifying patient;
Sec. 19. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§7, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 7. Possession of or application for card is not evidence of unlawful conduct or a basis for a search. Possession of a registry identification card by a cardholder, or the act of applying for such a card by a qualifying applicant, is not evidence of unlawful conduct and may not be used to support the search of that person or that person's property. The possession of or application for a registry identification card does not prevent the issuance of a warrant if probable cause exists on other grounds.
Sec. 20. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶E, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: E. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person who knowingly violates the confidentiality of information obtained pursuant to this chapter commits a civil violation for which a fine of up to $1,000 may be imposed. This paragraph does not apply to physicians, personnel of hospice facilities licensed under chapter 1681 or nursing facilities licensed under chapter 405 or any other person directly associated with physicians or licensed facility services to a qualifying patient except to the extent that such conduct may be subject to penalties or discipline under a separate provision of law, rule or regulation.
Sec. 21. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶F is enacted to read: F. Records maintained by the department pursuant to this chapter that identify qualifying patients are confidential and may not be disclosed except as follows:
Sec. 22. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶G is enacted to read: G. This subsection does not prohibit a physician from notifying the department if the physician acquires information indicating that a patient is no longer eligible to use medical marijuana or that the patient falsified information that was the basis of the physician's certification of eligibility for use.
Sec. 23. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶H is enacted to read: H. A hearing concerning the revocation of a registry identification card under subsection 3-A is confidential. If a registry identification card is revoked, the findings of the hearing and the revocation are public information.
Sec. 24. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶I is enacted to read: I. This subsection does not prohibit disclosure to an agency of State Government designated by the commissioner and employees of that agency of any information necessary to produce registry identification cards or manage the identification card program.
Sec. 25. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§8, ¶J is enacted to read: J. This subsection does not prohibit the disclosure of data for statistical or research purposes in such a manner that individuals cannot be identified.
Sec. 26. 22 MRSA §2425, sub-§9, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:9. Cardholder who sells, furnishes or gives marijuana to person not allowed to possess. Any cardholder who sells , furnishes or gives marijuana to a person who is not allowed to possess marijuana for medical purposes under this chapter must have that cardholder's registry identification card revoked and is liable for any other penalties for the sale of marijuana. The department may revoke the registry identification card of any cardholder who violates this chapter, and the cardholder is liable for any other penalties for the violation.
Sec. 27. 22 MRSA §2426, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:A. Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice or would otherwise violate any professional standard;
Sec. 28. 22 MRSA §2426, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:D. Operate, navigate or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft or , motorboat , snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle while under the influence of marijuana; or
Sec. 31. 22 MRSA §2428, sub-§5, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:5. Inspection. A nonprofit dispensary is subject to reasonable inspection by the department. The department shall give reasonable notice of may enter the nonprofit dispensary at any time, without notice, to carry out an inspection under this subsection.
Sec. 32. 22 MRSA §2428, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 1, §5, is amended to read:A. A nonprofit dispensary must be operated on a not-for-profit basis for the mutual benefit of its members and patrons. The bylaws of a nonprofit dispensary and its contracts with patrons must contain such provisions relative to the disposition of revenues and receipts as may be necessary and appropriate to establish and maintain its nonprofit character. A nonprofit dispensary need not be recognized as a tax-exempt organization under 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(3) and but is not required to incorporate pursuant to Title 13-B.
summary This bill amends the statutes enacted by Initiated Bill 2009, chapter 1, which allows a person who has been diagnosed by a physician as suffering from certain medical conditions to possess marijuana for medical use. It reflects the recommendations of the Committee on the Implementation of the Maine Medical Marijuana Act and the Criminal Law Advisory Commission. It also clarifies many of the provisions of the statutes, clarifies the process to add new debilitating conditions and conforms the language of the statutes to other Maine laws. It also applies retroactively to December 23, 2009, the effective date of the initiated bill.