SB 0959 Summary

• Establishes a "marijuana regulatory agency" to replace references to the "department" for implementing the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act.

• Requires the marijuana regulatory agency to expend $20,000,000 annually until October 1, 2023 or for at least 3 years for clinical trials and research projects on treating medical conditions and preventing suicide in public safety officers and U.S. Armed Services veterans.

• Allocates unexpended fund balances as follows: 15% to municipalities with marijuana retailers or microbusinesses, 15% to counties with such businesses, 35% to the school aid fund for K-12 education, and 35% to the Michigan transportation fund for road and bridge maintenance.

• Clarifies the definition of "industrial hemp" to specify that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration must be 0.3% or less on a dry-weight basis, and modifies marihuana-related definitions to capitalize "Cannabis" and restructure exclusions from the marihuana definition.