Selling to Dispensaries...BMMR to make it "sorta" legal for 2019

[semicaregiver]

The commercial marijuana part of LARA, the BMMR, is looking to sanction caregivers selling to dispensaries for the entire 2019 year.   They are presenting it to the licensing board next week, 12/7.  The question that comes up is are we protected?

1st there is the basic question that case law says I can not sell to anyone other than my patient and LARA issuing a ruling does not seem to negate the law

2nd, how much can I sell ?   Can I only sell 2.5z per patient/transaction?  If yes, can I transport the excess weight without being charged?  

3 can I save up all these sales dollars and use them as my liquid cash to apply for a grow license?

Here is the recent story on this issue...

Medical marijuana shortage pushes officials to consider breaking their own rules

Updated Nov 29, 4:43 PM; Posted Nov 29, 12:56 PM

 

 

 

7

Gallery: First medical marijuana retail sale in Michigan

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1.3kshares

By Amy Biolchini

abiolch1@mlive.com

Michigan officials are proposing a solution to a shortage of medical marijuana in the newly licensed industry -- but some lawyers say it's an ironic suggestion that could land caregivers in jail.

To keep shelves stocked at licensed medical marijuana shops, state regulators are asking the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board to look the other way if the shop is buying marijuana from caregivers. Right now, licensed retail stores could be fined or lose their license for such activities.

"It's an agreement to not take licensing action for certain activities," said Andrew Brisbo, director of the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation. "It's not an authorization for anything outside of that."

The board will consider the resolution at its next meeting Dec. 7.

But lawyers representing provisioning centers find hypocrisy in the request.

"It's ironic that so many of these caregivers have been punished or felonized for this activity," said Josh Colton, a lawyer with Komorn Law. "Now the government is turning around and telling caregivers that they are needed."

During the past year, state regulators have agreed to not go after dispensaries who sell marijuana grown by caregivers.

It's the reason nearly 100 dispensaries have been allowed to operate in Michigan unlicensed, and the source of a constantly changing deadline for compliance. There currently is no deadline.

 

Unlicensed pot shops won't be shut down this year

State regulators agreed to not take enforcement action before Dec. 31.

The stance by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has allowed caregivers to continue to sell to dispensaries -- at their own risk.

"That's the irony: the state didn't acknowledge where the product was coming from," said Thomas Nafso, an attorney who represents three Detroit provisioning centers owned by Green Skies. "There is nothing in the law that permits the caregivers to deliver to the dispensaries."

A court case established that caregivers in Michigan could only sell marijuana to five registered patients with whom they have a relationship. There is no provision in state law that allows caregivers to sell to businesses.

Michael Komorn, a criminal defense attorney and president of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, said he has caregivers as clients who have felony criminal cases pending for possession with intent to deliver.

"I have had many cases over the last eight years that alleged felony marijuana crimes for behavior that LARA just codified as a part of their system," Komorn said. "The takeaway it would suggest is that it has been realized now by the state that they need caregivers for the state's medical marijuana program to work. They may not want to admit it, but this last play by LARA seals it."

That practice was supposed to end once a provisioning center gained a state license and switched over to sourcing its medical marijuana from a licensed grower.

The state has been issuing licenses since July; so far 40 provisioning centers and 12 growers are among the 67 licenses issued. There still is not enough medical marijuana from licensed growers to go around. 

 

See where medical marijuana shops are licensed in Michigan

Forty provisioning centers are licensed, but some shops say there's no medical marijuana to sell.

The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation is now proposing that caregivers could continue to provide medical marijuana to licensed provisioning centers without fear of retribution from the licensing board.

"As we move forward with the transition to the regulated market there were certainly concerns that arose with continued access of product," Brisbo said.

There are 43,056 caregivers in Michigan, and 297,515 patients. 

Brisbo said the intent of the resolution has been communicated with law enforcement partners.

Specifically, the proposed resolution would allow a licensed provisioning center to stock up on marijuana and marijuana products from caregivers until Dec. 31 -- and could continue to sell it after Jan. 1, 2019, as long as it has been tested and entered into the state's tracking system.

Colton said he's skeptical as to whether the proposed resolution from LARA would be effective in the long term.

"It's still, in my opinion, a short-term solution to a much longer-term problem," Colton said. "This is certainly much-needed relief and would certainly allow patients to get the same medicine that they have had under the past 10 years through Dec. 31."

Colton added: "I would be remiss to think this is the last extension."

-- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. 
Read more from MLive about medical marijuana. 

 

https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/11/medical_marijuana_shortage_pus.html

[Restorium2]

1 hour ago, semicaregiver said:

The commercial marijuana part of LARA, the BMMR, is looking to sanction caregivers selling to dispensaries for the entire 2019 year.   They are presenting it to the licensing board next week, 12/7.  The question that comes up is are we protected?

1st there is the basic question that case law says I can not sell to anyone other than my patient and LARA issuing a ruling does not seem to negate the law

2nd, how much can I sell ?   Can I only sell 2.5z per patient/transaction?  If yes, can I transport the excess weight without being charged?  

3 can I save up all these sales dollars and use them as my liquid cash to apply for a grow license?Here is the recent story on this issue...

 

 

At DISPO you can sell 2.5 ounces times the patient cards you have. They make you show the cards. You can sell them that much each day. 

[Mayhem1134]

On 11/30/2018 at 12:13 PM, Restorium2 said:

At DISPO you can sell 2.5 ounces times the patient cards you have. They make you show the cards. You can sell them that much each day. 

Can you just walk in to a dispo and ask if they will donate for the overages or is there some kind of process you have to go through the first time?I would love to start doing this. Maybe reach out to them on IG as well? That's where I post the product pictures.

[Restorium2]

6 hours ago, Mayhem1134 said:

Can you just walk in to a dispo and ask if they will donate for the overages or is there some kind of process you have to go through the first time?I would love to start doing this. Maybe reach out to them on IG as well? That's where I post the product pictures.

You have to do it in person. After you are registered you get to go into the main room where you can ask a tender if they would like to buy your cannabis. They will ask you if you are a caregiver and they will want to see all of your cards to show them you are legal and have the right to carry the amount you want to sell. They will tell you it will have to be tested. Take it from there. 

[shishka]

All depends on the shop. A lot of shops have trusted vendors they have been dealing with for years and are not looking for new vendors. Some of the new shops need new vendors as they don’t have track records with established vendors. 

As far as how much they purchase I guess it depends on the shop. Sounds like some will only take 15 ounces while some will take multiple pounds at a time. 

And no none of this is technically legal for a caregiver just as it hasn’t been for the past ten years but it’s been going on and it will continue to go on. I would say you would have one hell of a defense in front of a jury at this point if charged. 

As far as using proceeds to capitalize your mmfla license? Doubtful at this point but with a new friendly governor that could change. As of now applicants using profit from the mmmp are being denied by the mmfla licensing board. 

[Restorium2]

12 hours ago, shishka said:

All depends on the shop. A lot of shops have trusted vendors they have been dealing with for years and are not looking for new vendors. Some of the new shops need new vendors as they don’t have track records with established vendors. 

As far as how much they purchase I guess it depends on the shop. Sounds like some will only take 15 ounces while some will take multiple pounds at a time. 

And no none of this is technically legal for a caregiver just as it hasn’t been for the past ten years but it’s been going on and it will continue to go on. I would say you would have one hell of a defense in front of a jury at this point if charged. 

As far as using proceeds to capitalize your mmfla license? Doubtful at this point but with a new friendly governor that could change. As of now applicants using profit from the mmmp are being denied by the mmfla licensing board. 

Right on that account. You have to have specific experience to know.

Like I asked at ROOTS and they said they have a 1500 plant grow so they aren't buying anything.