The governor of Delaware has signed several marijuana bills into law, including measures that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses in the state to begin recreational sales on an expedited basis, transfer regulatory authority for the medical program and make technical changes to marijuana statutes.
All three pieces of legislation were sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski (D) and Sen. Trey Paradee (D) and were given final approval by Gov. John Carney (D) on Wednesday. The dual licensing legislation is meant to allow recreational sales to begin months earlier than planned, though critics say the legislation would give an unfair market advantage to larger, more dominant businesses already operating in multiple states.
It will let current medical marijuana providers convert to dual-use licensees that could serve both registered patients and adults over 21. Fees from the license conversions—which are estimated to bring in more than $4 million—will be used for financial assistance to social equity-owned cannabis businesses.
HB 408 will create a "conversion license" category, laying out requirements for medical cannabis businesses to apply and also stipulating that the applicants who are denied due to local bans can apply for general licenses for a new location, which must be approved as long as they meet the requirements.
Read more at marijuanamoment.net