Delaware officials released draft regulations on their adult-use marijuana market, which is expected to be launched in the state next year. They are now asking for public feedback.
The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner published the draft regulation on Thursday. It lays out the basic framework for different cannabis business licenses and the requirements for the application.
The office has announced that it will release draft regulations every week as it prepares to implement the legalization of marijuana under two bills signed by Gov. Jay Carney, a Democrat, allowed the marijuana bills to pass last year without his signature.
OMC stated that “it is important to remember that these preliminary draft regulations are dependent upon proposed legislative changes being considered by members of General Assembly and regulations may need to be adjusted as a result.” The draft regulations that were presented during this informal process provide a preview of what the OMC will be doing in developing the formal regulations.
The informal public comments period is open through March 29. The regulators said that they would open the formal public comment period after the release of the remaining regulations. They aim to finalize the rules between May 1 and 31.
The office stated that “the sections of Draft Regulation released to the public today include those applicable for the licensing of adult use recreational marijuana businesses, as well as the application process, issuance of licences, and processes related to renewal and transfer licenses.”
Robert Coupe, the Delaware Marijuana Commission’s Commissioner, gave a preview of plans to publish first proposed rules at a hearing held by the Joint Finance Committee of the legislature last week.
He revealed that sales of retail marijuana in the state could not begin until March 2025. This is four months later than originally planned. Officials are also looking at the possibility of allowing medical cannabis dispensaries that already serve adult customers to begin serving them sooner.
Coupe stated that the current plan was to finalize the rules for the adult use cannabis program by the end of July, accept license applications from September and start approving the different types of licenses on a staggered basis in October. Cultivation licences could be granted in November. Manufacturer licenses would follow in December, and retailer and test licenses will come in March 2025.
The Delaware House of Representatives also approved a bill to expand significantly the state’s medical cannabis program last month.
The bill by Rep. Ed Osienski would change the state program in a number of ways, including eliminating limitations on patient eligibility that are based on specific health conditions. Doctors could instead recommend marijuana for any condition.
Patients over 65 years old could also self-certify their medical cannabis use without a physician’s recommendation.
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Osienski, a former legislator in Colorado, gave advice last year to other state lawmakers who are pushing marijuana reform.
He said in May that the key was to continue working on it, and look at what other states had done. Then you can decide what is best for your own state.
He also urged legislators to meet with “affected agencies of state” such as the Departments of Health, Finance and Agriculture.
He said, “We had to have meeting after meeting in order to resolve a number of issues.”
Separately the Delaware Senate approved a separate resolution in March last year that urges state representatives to to support legislation to end the federal prohibition of cannabis.
Carney , in 2022, vetoed an bill that was more specifically tailored , which would have clarified the fact that state law does not prohibit medical marijuana patients from purchasing, possessing, or transferring firearms.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
The post Delaware Officials release first draft rules for adult-use marijuana market as states prepares for legalization originally appeared on Marijuana Moment.
