Colorado lawmakers sent bills to Governor that would allow for online marijuana sales, and strengthen protections for professionals working in the state.
The bill to regulate online sales, sponsored by Reps. William Lindstedt , Said Sharbini , and Robert Rodriguez was passed in the House last week . It then cleared the Senate on Monday with a vote of 32-12 at third reading.
The bill would remove language that expressly prohibits the sale of cannabis on the Internet, and add regulations to allow online commerce.
Adults over 21 would still have to pick up marijuana products at the retailer but could browse online and purchase cannabis electronically.
The bill states that retailers will be required to verify that the name and age are the same as the information provided by the customer when purchasing online. This information must match the identification they provide to the retailer at the time they pick up their products.
Customers would also be required to acknowledge receipt of any educational or warning materials posted on the licensed premises by the retailer.
“What the bill mainly aims to do, from my perspective, is reduce cash in the marijuana space, which is something that is exceedingly important to do because when there is a tremendous amount of cash in any industry, it can lead to some troubling outcomes–specifically things like robbery,” Sen. Kevin Van Winkle (R) said on the floor on Monday. It sets them up to a tremendous amount of theft and other things.
He also said that he hopes that Congress will resolve the unique financial and safety issues of the marijuana industry by passing the bipartisan Safe and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, which was re-filed last week.
In the meantime, on Monday, Van Winkle’s separate cannabis measure that was approved last month by the Senate passed through the House with a 49-13 vote in third reading.
The law would prevent regulators from revoking or denying professional certifications, licenses or registrations based on criminal or civil violations in relation to cannabis-related activities that have been legalized in the state.
The previous impact of marijuana on a person’s license or certification cannot be used to justify disciplinary actions in the future.
The bill codifies an executive order issued by Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, issued a broad professional licensing for marijuana users who follow state law. This order also prevents state agencies from providing assistance to any investigations conducted outside of the state that may result in penalties for employment related to legal cannabis conduct.
The governor stated that this policy was necessary in order to prevent qualified individuals from leaving the state to seek work and to deal with the workforce shortage. It’s only logical that he would sign the bill now on his desk.
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Colorado has undertaken numerous reforms since becoming the first state to legalize marijuana for adult use.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, the state has taken measures to promote the energy efficiency of the sector. also ensure that social equity is prioritized.
The Governor recently announced – the first marijuana vending machines in the state. This machine can package, label, and dispense cannabis products to adults within 50 seconds.
Colorado officials have repeatedly urged the federal government to enact reform. The governor contacted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, to inquire about the timetable for a review of federal marijuana scheduling by the HHS that was directed by President Joe Biden last year.
Last year, voters approved a ballot measure that legalized certain entheogenic drugs and allowed psilocybin treatment.
The Colorado House passed a bill last week that was approved by the Senate to create an administrative framework for legal psychedelics in accordance with a voter-approved measure. The measure was introduced in early May and has been moving quickly since then as legislators work to pass it by the end of legislative session, on May 6.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
The post Colorado Lawmakers Pass Bills to Allow Online Marijuana Sale and Strengthen Professional Protections, And Send Them To The Governor first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
Colorado Lawmakers Approve Bills To Allow Online Marijuana Sales And Bolster Professional Protections, Sending Them To Governor