Guam: Final Version Of Medical Marijuana Draft Rules Still Has Issues

Robert Celt

New Member
After almost two years at public health, the final draft of rules and regulations for medical marijuana is on its way to the legislature but even though the draft is in final form, some of the key arguments made during the first draft still remain.

The rules and regulations for medical marijuana are in final draft form. One of the key arguments against the first draft of the rules and regs was the fee structure. Some worry that the high application fee, which was lowered from $35,000 in the first draft to 5,000 in the final draft form, will make it difficult for small businesses and farmers to get licenses. That argument still remains.

"Most of the fees are in a range from 15 thousand to five thousand, depending upon whether they are renewals or inspections relocation fees, the card itself, that's the patients charge: 15 dollars, says Gillan.

Still, some are worried that the economics of the program are still not practical.

Talking on the "One-Hour Free Re-Phill" on Newstalk K57, Andrea Pellicani says, "we still have not addressed the economics. This program is not sustainable, it's still 25,000 dollars per establishment and if your saying there's three dispensaries and three cultivators, that's 50,000 [dollars] by the time it reaches the patient,."

The $25,000 fee to open a dispensary doesn't even include built in costs associated with starting a business such as rent, security systems, record keeping systems etc... In its economic impact statement, Public Health notes "it is expected those costs would be factored into the price of the medical marijuana product, which will ultimately be borne by the patient...."

Also noticeably missing from the final draft is a lab component to be able to test the marijuana patients will receive. Gillan says right now for medical marijuana patients, it's 'buyer beware."

"I'm concerned about the quality of the product, in simple things like fungus and molds and those kinds of things and they're not having that tested so we are relying on the dispenser and probably the producer to certify but there are no penalties, if there's a laboratory, we have to build in some penalties once the lab finds that these things are not meeting the requirements," says Gillan.

Gillan says he will transmit the final draft, as well as all the testimony from all the public hearings, to the Governor's office by the end of day today. From then the rules will go before the legislature.

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News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Guam: Final Version Of Medical Marijuana Draft Rules Still Has Issues
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