Senate passes cannabis reform bill

Earlier today, on the last day of formal sessions for 2025, the Senate passed a wide-ranging bill aimed at restructuring the Cannabis Control Commission and making changes to cannabis industry regulations.

The House passed a similar reform bill in June.

Both the House and Senate bills would reduce the CCC from five members to three, though they differ on the issue of appointing power. The Senate bill would grant appointing power to the governor for two CCC members, with the third to be appointed by the attorney general. The House bill would give the governor appointing power for all three members.

The Senate bill would allow retailers to hold up to four licenses, an increase from the current cap of three, whereas the House bill would raise the cap to six.

The Senate bill would change the threshold for a minority equity state from 10% to 12%, rather than 30% proposed in the House version.

Both bills would remove the current vertical integration requirement, which requires medical licensees to both grow and process the products they sell.

The Senate adopted an amendment that would allow delivery of cannabis in any municipality except those that have opted out by obtaining a waiver from the CCC. Municipalities would need to apply to the CCC for the delivery waiver every two years.

The House bill would not change delivery regulations, but includes provisions to reform and regulate the CBD and hemp-derived product industry.

The two bills now move a House-Senate conference committee to resolve the differences.