After becoming the 22nd state in the nation to legalize cannabis, Delaware has been evolving its strategy to ensure a smooth transition from their medical cannabis program to their adult-use program. From expediting the licensing process to removing the list of qualifying conditions for registered patients, Delaware's ever-evolving laws and regulations have created an expansive cannabis program. With a projected market of $251 million, many are wondering what their instrumental role is in the state's soon-to-be booming cannabis market.
2024 legislative changes impacting Delaware's cannabis industry
This year's legislative session made waves in transforming what we now know of Delaware's cannabis industry. Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 334 into law, which made significant modifications to the overall adult-use licensing process such as replacing the merit-based scoring process with a lottery and removing the requirement that applicants must secure a facility to apply.
Moreover, House Bill 408 created a conversion license for existing Delaware medical cannabis operators to assist with speeding up access to adult-use cannabis. Current operators will have to pay a hefty fee of $100,000 to $200,000 to serve both the medical and adult-use program with such fees being vital to providing funds for the newly established social equity fund created by this bill.
In Delaware's medical cannabis space, Carney signed House Bill 425 into law to allow the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) to become the overseeing agency for both the medical and adult-use programs. A significant change made to Delaware's medical cannabis program comes from the enactment of House Bill 285, which removes the list of qualifying conditions and allows doctors to use their discretion regarding when to recommend cannabis to a patient. Furthermore, it expands patient access by allowing reciprocity for out-of-state patients, increases expiration dates for medical cannabis cards, and allows patients 65 years and older to self-certify their need for medical cannabis without a healthcare provider's recommendation.
Read more at: eu.delawareonline.com