(MPRN-Lansing) There’s a new office overseeing Michigan’s medical marijuana program. The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation will issue licenses to growers, distributors, retailers and patients under a new system.
It was adopted last year by the Legislature and Governor Rick Snyder. It’s supposed to help clean up problems with the law that was enacted by voters nine years ago. The new agency will also collect licensing fees, and test medical marijuana to make sure it’s safe.
“Our function as an agency is to ensure safe product is available for the patients in Michigan, and that we create a regulatory structure that allows for the growth of business,”
says Andrew Brisbo, the director of the new agency.
“The number of patients is increasing yearly, so the need is obviously there in that regard.”
There are currently 240,000 licensed medical marijuana patients in Michigan, and 40,000 licensed to distribute medical marijuana. The state will start issuing the new marijuana licenses next year.
