HB 07371 - Retail Sale of Cannabis

• Establishes a Cannabis Commission within the Department of Consumer Protection with five commissioners to regulate cannabis retail sales, cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, and laboratories.

• Requires the Commission to promote equity in the cannabis industry for communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, including establishing "equity applicant" status, providing $500,000 annually for outreach, and issuing licenses to equity applicants three months before other applicants.

• Creates licensing framework for cannabis retailers (minimum $5,000 fees), cultivation facilities (minimum $25,000-$75,000 fees), and product manufacturing facilities (maximum $25,000-$35,000 fees), with reduced fees for equity applicants.

• Prohibits cannabis retailers, cultivation facilities, and manufacturing facilities from cross-owning each other; requires child-resistant packaging, warning labels covering health risks, and restrictions on marketing to children.

• Allows municipalities to prohibit cannabis establishments or restrict their hours through ordinance, but prohibits towns from imposing fees on equity applicants approved by the Commission.