SPONSOR:

Rep. Dorsey Walker & Sen. Gay

Sen. Hansen

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 103

DIRECTING THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO HOLD QUARTERLY STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.

WHEREAS, the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program is administered by the Office of Medical Marijuana, which is dedicated to ensuring access to safe and quality medical marijuana to registered patients with qualifying medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, the production and sale of medical marijuana products is vital to the lives of 15,000 registered patients in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, Delaware currently has nine existing retail compassion center locations across the state, with an additional three retail locations set to open in 2022; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee (JLOSC) conducted a review of the Medical Marijuana Act Oversight Committee (MMAOC) in 2021 and 2022 and found that the MMAOC is not meeting a public need and is rarely able to act on received public comment; and

WHEREAS, holding regular meetings with a stakeholder group made up of Delaware-registered patients and caregivers, Delaware-registered compassion center and safety compliance facility representatives, Delaware-licensed medical providers, and Office of Medical Marijuana staff will provide insight into issues related to the production and sale of medical marijuana products in Delaware and will work to increase patient satisfaction.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Office of Medical Marijuana is directed to create a stakeholder group to meet at least quarterly for the purpose of discussing and addressing issues related to the Medical Marijuana Program in Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the stakeholder group shall contain representation from the Delaware-registered patient and caregiver population, the medical and scientific communities, the Delaware-registered compassion centers and safety compliance facility, and the Office of Medical Marijuana.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the stakeholder group shall operate in an advisory capacity, and stakeholder group meetings should center around identifying issues and possible solutions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division of Public Health shall facilitate the stakeholder group meetings; participation on the stakeholder group is voluntary and no form of compensation or reimbursment will be available for stakeholder group meetings or subcommittee meetings.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Medical Marijuana shall submit a summary report to the Governor, the Delaware State Senate, and the Delaware House of Representatives detailing the discussions of the stakeholder group by January 31, 2023.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution establishes a medical marijuana stakeholder group, responsible to meet at least quarterly and discuss timely and appropriate issues dealing with the Medical Marijuana Program in Delaware.