HB 478 Summary

• Establishes a medical cannabis program allowing registered qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions to legally possess, cultivate, and use cannabis under physician supervision.

• Creates a registry identification card system administered by the Department of Health, with qualifying patients limited to 200 grams of usable cannabis or 12 mature plants.

• Exempts registered patients, primary caregivers, and practitioners from arrest and criminal penalties for medical cannabis activities, and prohibits employers and licensing agencies from taking disciplinary action based on medical cannabis use.

• Establishes protections including confidentiality of patient records, a verification system for law enforcement, and an advisory council to evaluate petitions for additional qualifying medical conditions.

• Amends existing drug laws to carve out exceptions for authorized medical cannabis activities while maintaining penalties for non-medical cannabis possession and distribution.