SB 212 Summary: Medical Marijuana Retail Facilities

• Creates new "medical marijuana retail facilities" as licensed entities separate from treatment centers, authorized to dispense marijuana and delivery devices acquired from a single contracted treatment center to qualified patients and caregivers beginning August 1, 2020.

• Requires the Department of Health to license retail facilities with applications demonstrating security capabilities, financial stability, diversity plans, liability insurance of at least $250,000, and employment of a medical director; prohibits individuals from holding licenses for multiple retail facilities.

• Prohibits medical marijuana treatment centers from owning or operating retail facilities, from making wholesale purchases from other treatment centers, and from transporting marijuana; allows treatment centers to contract with up to 10 retail facilities for product distribution.

• Restricts retail facility operations including prohibition of Internet sales, wholesale purchasing, product repackaging, and edible production; requires facilities to maintain security systems, undergo biennial inspections, and verify patient registry status before dispensing.

• Expands access to the medical marijuana use registry for retail facilities to verify physician certifications and patient authorization, and amends penalty provisions to include retail facilities in criminal statutes related to unlicensed marijuana distribution.