Robert Celt
New Member
A new report raises concerns that a medical marijuana program in Wyoming may not be able to pay for itself, though it also states that hurdle can be overcome.
It also says state lawmakers should work to create "placeholder bills" in case voters legalize some form of marijuana.
Those suggestions and more information come from the final report of the Governor's Marijuana Impact Assessment Council, which was released Wednesday.
The nearly 250-page document does not offer a recommendation on whether marijuana should be legalized, but it does give an idea of what a medical marijuana program could look like in Wyoming.
Effects of marijuana legalization are addressed in several different aspects, ranging from agriculture to criminal justice to health to revenue.
It contains input from the state Department of Revenue, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, health officials and legislative officials.
The report also includes research into states that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana, particularly Colorado, because of its proximity to Wyoming and recreational legalization, and Vermont, which has a similar size and demographic profile to Wyoming.
The revenue projections for a medical marijuana program are from the state Department of Revenue and are one of the key findings of the report.
The department used information from Colorado, Vermont and Washington in its research. It also visited medical and retail marijuana establishments in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado.
In its report, the Department of Revenue assumes a hypothetical Wyoming Marijuana Enforcement Division would have 18 staff members, divided among accounting and compliance.
It also assumes that statewide there would be 23 dispensaries and 23 cultivation facilities (one for each county), five marijuana-infused products facilities and two testing facilities.
About 10,000 patients statewide would participate in the medical marijuana program, according to the report's estimates.
Using those figures, the department calculated a startup cost for the Marijuana Enforcement Division of about $2.7 million and annual operating costs of about $1.7 million.
Annual licensing revenue would be about $79,500, and product sales would generate about $529,920 in revenue for the state and $504,960 for local governments.
"Based on the assumptions made, the revenue generated from licensing and sales will not be sufficient to pay for the administration of the program," the report states. "It is certainly possible to adjust the licensing fees to cover the administration. It is also important to note that if more dispensaries and cultivation facilities are licensed, more revenue could be generated from licensing."
A section of the report from state lawmakers examines what legislation would be necessary if medical marijuana were approved in Wyoming.
Like the Department of Revenue sub-report, the legislative section recommends the Department of Revenue administer marijuana through a Marijuana Enforcement Division that is separate from the Liquor Division.
The report also recommends legislators create "placeholder bills" in case voters legalize some form of marijuana.
"The most important thing learned on the legislative/statutory side is to be ready to roll out an agency or group of agencies with rules and statutory guidelines already in place," the report said, adding "even if there is no immediate need now, there will be one in the future."
As for health effects, the report found that the potential exists for youth marijuana use to increase with legalization – not due to the dispensaries, but because of a perception of reduced risk and effects of marijuana.
There is insufficient evidence that adult marijuana use rates would be affected by legalization, according to the report.
Some increased strain on medical facilities could occur, like if people use too much marijuana, but opioid overdose deaths could decrease.
The report also acknowledges health benefits for people with certain illnesses under medical marijuana, but the report does not identify health benefits for the general population.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Report Offers Glimpse At What Medical Marijuana Could Look Like In Wyoming
Author: Matt Murphy
Contact: Star Tribune
Photo Credit: CBC
Website: Star Tribune
It also says state lawmakers should work to create "placeholder bills" in case voters legalize some form of marijuana.
Those suggestions and more information come from the final report of the Governor's Marijuana Impact Assessment Council, which was released Wednesday.
The nearly 250-page document does not offer a recommendation on whether marijuana should be legalized, but it does give an idea of what a medical marijuana program could look like in Wyoming.
Effects of marijuana legalization are addressed in several different aspects, ranging from agriculture to criminal justice to health to revenue.
It contains input from the state Department of Revenue, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, health officials and legislative officials.
The report also includes research into states that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana, particularly Colorado, because of its proximity to Wyoming and recreational legalization, and Vermont, which has a similar size and demographic profile to Wyoming.
The revenue projections for a medical marijuana program are from the state Department of Revenue and are one of the key findings of the report.
The department used information from Colorado, Vermont and Washington in its research. It also visited medical and retail marijuana establishments in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado.
In its report, the Department of Revenue assumes a hypothetical Wyoming Marijuana Enforcement Division would have 18 staff members, divided among accounting and compliance.
It also assumes that statewide there would be 23 dispensaries and 23 cultivation facilities (one for each county), five marijuana-infused products facilities and two testing facilities.
About 10,000 patients statewide would participate in the medical marijuana program, according to the report's estimates.
Using those figures, the department calculated a startup cost for the Marijuana Enforcement Division of about $2.7 million and annual operating costs of about $1.7 million.
Annual licensing revenue would be about $79,500, and product sales would generate about $529,920 in revenue for the state and $504,960 for local governments.
"Based on the assumptions made, the revenue generated from licensing and sales will not be sufficient to pay for the administration of the program," the report states. "It is certainly possible to adjust the licensing fees to cover the administration. It is also important to note that if more dispensaries and cultivation facilities are licensed, more revenue could be generated from licensing."
A section of the report from state lawmakers examines what legislation would be necessary if medical marijuana were approved in Wyoming.
Like the Department of Revenue sub-report, the legislative section recommends the Department of Revenue administer marijuana through a Marijuana Enforcement Division that is separate from the Liquor Division.
The report also recommends legislators create "placeholder bills" in case voters legalize some form of marijuana.
"The most important thing learned on the legislative/statutory side is to be ready to roll out an agency or group of agencies with rules and statutory guidelines already in place," the report said, adding "even if there is no immediate need now, there will be one in the future."
As for health effects, the report found that the potential exists for youth marijuana use to increase with legalization – not due to the dispensaries, but because of a perception of reduced risk and effects of marijuana.
There is insufficient evidence that adult marijuana use rates would be affected by legalization, according to the report.
Some increased strain on medical facilities could occur, like if people use too much marijuana, but opioid overdose deaths could decrease.
The report also acknowledges health benefits for people with certain illnesses under medical marijuana, but the report does not identify health benefits for the general population.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Report Offers Glimpse At What Medical Marijuana Could Look Like In Wyoming
Author: Matt Murphy
Contact: Star Tribune
Photo Credit: CBC
Website: Star Tribune
