Bill > SB49

This bill establishes the Cannabis Control Board (Board) to regulate cannabis and related products, transferring oversight of the medical marijuana program from the Department of Health to this new independent agency. The Board will be composed of members appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, with specific experience requirements and strict conflict-of-interest rules to ensure impartiality. It also creates the Cannabis Regulation Fund to collect fees, taxes, and fines, with a portion dedicated to the Board's operations, patient assistance programs, and drug abuse prevention services. The bill outlines the Board's extensive powers and duties, including issuing permits for various cannabis-related activities such as warehousing, distribution, and third-party transportation, and sets forth detailed regulations for product safety, labeling, advertising, and seed-to-sale tracking. Importantly, the bill defines "cannabis" broadly to include hemp-derived cannabinoid products that are not naturally produced by hemp plants or are synthesized outside the plant, and it establishes penalties for unauthorized activities.