By Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently rejected 11 bills, including three medical marijuana bills, and said the others were related to retirement benefits and taxes. But the governor signed six other bills into law, which the state legislature approved.
Michigan Advance report In a letter of veto to Congress on December 22, Whitmer said that the bill “had passed a lame-duck meeting so quickly that it deserves closer consideration.”
Whitmer has vetoed several Republican-backed medical marijuana bills that would make some changes to cannabis processing and distribution.
Rep. Roger Houck (R – Union Township) introduced two bills that were rejected. House Bill 5871We have amended state laws to make medical cannabis products easier to access and easier to transport from one facility to another. HB 5871 also prohibits background checks on an applicant’s spouse under certain circumstances.
House Bill 5965On the other hand, it would have updated the wording and definitions of some of the state’s medical marijuana facility license laws, such as the title of the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA).
Another medical cannabis-related bill was rejected. House Bill 5839Proposed by Rep. Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes).
“We look forward to working with the new Congress in January on our priorities for maintaining economic momentum, reducing costs, and expanding educational support for Michigan students. And it’s time to get serious about getting things done to make life better for working families,” Whitmer wrote in a veto letter last month.
Several other bills were rejected, such as bill package HB 4263–4266Public school employees, state employees, judges, and state police retirement plans had to pay off the debt in equal installments.
HB4188Rep. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) proposed a bill that would amend the state’s Public School Employee Retirement Act. Several other bills were similarly rejected.
Michigan Cannabis Industry
Governors don’t want rush bills on their desks. Some of the concerns may be due to other troubling issues, despite the surge in production. Politico reportFor example, the number of cannabis plants in Michigan is about six times the amount seen in 2020, creating a serious oversupply problem.
The price of cannabis in the Michigan adult market has plunged about 75% over the past two years, from about $400 to less than $100 an ounce. Falling prices have prompted some industry players to seek a moratorium on cultivation licenses.
M Live report On the other hand, 2022 has been a good year for customers who are paying far less than usual this year.
The average retail cost of an ounce of cannabis plummeted to a record low of $95, according to November 2022 figures, with some stocks dropping to nearly $60 an ounce at retail cannabis stores.
Cannabis retail sales are booming and are expected to generate more than $2 billion in annual tax revenue.
Last August, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer removed former Cannabis Control Agency Commissioner Andrew Brisbo, who helped launch adult marijuana in the state in December 2019, and replaced him with Brian Hannah.
This year, Democrats control both the Michigan House and Senate in the Michigan Legislature. 2023 will be the first year since 1984 that the Democratic Party has a majority. The Michigan House of Representatives is adjourned until Wednesday, January 11.
