Past cannabis convictions shouldn’t deter Michiganders from getting a marijuana license

By Nina Zdinjak

Senator Jeff Irwin (D) tabled a new bill last week aimed at aligning licensing protocols for Michigan’s medical programs and adult use programs by removing a “moral character” clause from the medical cannabis licensing policy.

When the bill, assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, goes into effect, marijuana regulators in Michigan could no longer refuse to grant a medical cannabis license to someone based on “moral character and reputation” or past cannabis convictions.

Photo by Roman Budnyi / Getty Images

“It seems particularly important in the cannabis space that we open the door to the legal cannabis industry for people who are very experienced in the illegal cannabis field,” said Irwin, adding that it would be unreasonable to assume that the illegal sale of cannabis would be just like that End.

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“I don’t think we want to exclude anyone who ever entered the marijuana industry before it was legal because it’s legal now because it’s getting even harder for us to build the legal space and that reduce illegal space. “Remarked Irwin.

Moral character clause invites inequality and corruption

One of the main problems with the “moral clause” is its existence in the medical cannabis program, but not in the recreational sector.

Irwin told Marijuana Moment in a telephone interview on Monday that the subjective nature of the moral character clause “invites unequal application of the law, invites it to favor it, invites it to corruption”.

To build a successful legal market, “we need to keep taxes down,” continued Irwin. “We have to keep the barriers to entry low. We need to welcome people who may have a marijuana conviction on their files to the licensed area. All of this is part of being successful as a state and ensuring that the majority of transactions take place in a safe and regulated jurisdiction. “

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Michigan cannabis sales hit a record $ 171 million in July, which in turn generated more than $ 23 million in tax revenue to fund the roads, schools, and counties on Great Lake.

The bill is endorsed by Senators Sean McCann, Stephanie Chang, and Sylvia Santana, all Democrats, but according to Irwin, the bill should ultimately get the support of the GOP.

Last week, Irwin separately introduced legislation to legalize the possession and cultivation of certain psychedelics.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.