Several dozen people were in Helena Thursday to give input on proposed changes to the administrative rules for Montana’s medical marijuana system.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services held a public meeting on the proposed rule updates. Leaders say the changes are needed to help implement Senate Bill 265, a large medical marijuana reform law that the Montana Legislature approved last year. One of the biggest changes in that law will be “untethering” patients and providers – removing the requirement that patients get marijuana from only a single provider.
“The proposed rules seek to continue to strengthen the integrity of the medical marijuana program, as well as implement changes required by law,” said Erica Johnston, the health department's operations services branch manager.
The rule proposals would make several changes to the medical marijuana system. Among the most notable are overhauling the fee structure for marijuana providers, implementing a license structure based on providers’ growing space and requiring providers to check buyers’ eligibility and that they haven’t exceeded daily or monthly purchase limits.
However, several of the proposed changes drew criticism from medical marijuana providers and others in attendance. One is a clarification of rules against marijuana advertising. It would prohibit “any written or verbal statements, photos, symbols, or depictions of marijuana or marijuana products” that were accessible to the general public, as well as any words or prices that “a reasonable person” would believe identified or described marijuana or marijuana products.
Marijuana providers said the rules were too broad and would make it difficult for patients to make informed decisions about where to purchase their medicine.
“Where people are actively looking and searching for information, they should be able to do that, and we should be able to, as providers, put that information available to the public,” said Tayln Lang, owner of Heirloom Remedies in Ravalli County.
Another contentious change would say licensed providers could only sell CBD products – which contain a compound from cannabis plants that does not create highs – if they are sourced from Montana hemp growers.
Health department leaders said the rule would ensure CBD products were tested and safe. Opponents said Montana’s hemp industry is not yet ready to meet the demand for CBD products, and that the rule would put an unnecessary barrier in front of patients.
“The CBD products that come in from out of state are federally legal, they’re federally tested, and they don’t deserve to even be listed in this act,” said Doug Felt, of Uncle Bucks in Billings. “This is another example of policy being created, for some unknown reason that no one can even understand.”
Some commenters also had concerns about how the health department will determine the limit for how much a patient can possess of marijuana edibles and other derivative products. State law sets limits on how much “usable marijuana” a patient can purchase. The proposed rule changes would state that an ounce of marijuana in the typical “flower” form would be equivalent to 800 milligrams of edibles and other marijuana-infused products or to 8 grams or 8 milliliters of marijuana concentrate.
Health leaders said they determined the equivalency calculation based on a 2015 study for the Colorado Department of Revenue. However, those in attendance at Thursday’s meeting questioned the accuracy of that study and argued the state’s allowed amounts would not be enough for many patients who use edible products.
State law says, once patients and providers are untethered, patients will be able to purchase no more than one ounce of marijuana per day and five ounces a month. It says patients who grow their own marijuana can possess up to four mature plants and four seedlings, and it gives DPHHS the authority to determine how much usable marijuana those patients can possess. The updated rules would allow them to have up to 16 ounces at their registered address and one ounce at any other location.
The health department will continue taking comments on the proposed rules through Feb. 28. Johnston said department leaders will take everything they hear into consideration before finalizing the rule changes.
You can find a link to a full copy of the proposed changes on the DPHHS website .
Health leaders say they have been waiting to implement untethering until METRC, the state’s seed-to-sale marijuana tracking system, can track whether a patient has reached their daily or monthly purchase limit. A department spokesperson said METRC now plans to make that update by the end of April.
