House Bill 21-1301 Summary

• Establishes a working group to study and recommend measures to minimize cross-pollination between cannabis plants, with recommendations due by November 1, 2022, and the working group repealed effective January 1, 2023.

• Permits medical and retail marijuana cultivation facility licensees to file voluntary contingency plans beginning January 1, 2022 to address outdoor cultivation operations during adverse weather events such as drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, wind, tornado, earthquake, wildfire, or flood.

• Adds definitions for outdoor cultivation, licensed outdoor marijuana cultivation, registered outdoor hemp cultivation, adverse weather events, cross-pollination, volunteer cannabis plants, and state licensing authority to cannabis and marijuana statutes.

• Appropriates $104,780 to the Department of Agriculture, $279,194 to the Department of Revenue, and $53,170 to the Department of Law for the 2021-22 fiscal year to implement the bill's provisions, including legal services and additional staff positions.

• Takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day following the 90-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly, subject to potential referendum petition.