Michigan aims to speed up medical cannabis application process

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Michigan’s medical marijuana regulators added three more review meetings in an effort to undo a growing logjam of MMJ license applications.

The state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which is responsible for licensing medical cannabis businesses, originally scheduled five meetings over the course of the year to review applications.

However, the agency on Tuesday scheduled an additional meeting in April and two in May, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Issues with the state’s application process came to light last week when regulators temporarily rejected the first two MMJ business applicants they considered.

The development is especially important for the 215 marijuana businesses in the state that have permission to operate until June 15 but must close if they haven’t won a license by then.

Regulators said they will send information to those detailing what will be required of them when it’s time for their license application reviews.

The list includes:

  • Facility inspections.
  • Criminal background checks on all employees.
  • Labeling for infused products that includes the amount of THC in the product and the state’s new marijuana product symbol.

Michigan’s MMJ regulations will allow dispensaries to serve cardholders from other states but will prohibit drive-thrus and mail delivery.