Amendment AA3-AB546

AB546-AA3,9,10 (3) License criteria. (a) The department may issue a license under this section to an applicant only if the applicant has been a resident of this state for at least the 2 years immediately preceding the application.

AB546-AA3,9,12 (b) The department may not issue a license to, and must revoke a license of, any entity to which any of the following applies:

AB546-AA3,9,13 1. The entity is located within 500 feet of a school, including a charter school.

AB546-AA3,9,17 2. If the entity is a dispensary, the dispensary distributes to a member of a treatment team a number of cannabis plants or an amount of usable cannabis that, in the period of distribution, results in the treatment team possessing more than the maximum authorized amount.

AB546-AA3,9,21 3. The dispensary possesses a number of cannabis plants or an amount of usable cannabis that exceeds the combined maximum authorized amount for all of the treatment teams that use the dispensary by a number or an amount determined by the department by rule to be unacceptable.

AB546-AA3,9,23 4. The applicant, or a principal officer or board member of the applicant, has a financial interest in a registered laboratory.

AB546-AA3,10,3 (4) Licensing procedure; fees; license term. (a) An application for a license under this section shall be in writing on a form provided by the department and include the licensing application fee under par. (b) 1.

AB546-AA3,10,5 (b) 1. A licensing application fee shall be an amount determined by the department but not less than $250.

AB546-AA3,10,7 2. The annual fee for a licensee shall be an amount determined by the department but not less than $5,000.

AB546-AA3,10,9 (c) A license is valid unless revoked. Each license shall be issued only for the applicant named in the application and may not be transferred or assigned.

AB546-AA3,10,14 (5) Producers. (a) A licensed producer may plant, grow, cultivate, and harvest medical cannabis, including planting, growing, cultivating, and harvesting outdoors; transfer or sell the medical cannabis to a licensed processor; and engage in any related activities that are necessary for the operation, such as possessing, storing, and transporting the medical cannabis.

AB546-AA3,10,16 (b) A licensed producer may not plant, grow, cultivate, or harvest medical cannabis for personal, family, or household use.

AB546-AA3,10,24 (6) Processors. (a) A licensed processor may obtain medical cannabis from a licensed producer; process the medical cannabis into usable cannabis or individual cannabis plants; transfer samples of the usable cannabis or individual cannabis plants to a registered laboratory; package and label the usable cannabis or individual cannabis plants; transfer or sell the usable cannabis or individual cannabis plants to a licensed dispensary; and engage in any related activities that are necessary for the operation, such as possessing, storing, and transporting the usable cannabis or individual cannabis plants.

AB546-AA3,11,7 (b) Before distributing medical cannabis to a licensed dispensary, a licensed processor shall provide samples of each type of cannabis plant and usable cannabis that it processes to a registered laboratory to test for mold, fungus, pesticides, and other contaminants and may not distribute medical cannabis that tests positive for mold, fungus, pesticides, or other contaminants if the contaminants or the level of contaminants is identified by the laboratory as being potentially unsafe to an individual's health.

AB546-AA3,11,12 (7) Dispensaries. (a) A licensed dispensary may obtain packaged, labelled medical cannabis from a licensed processor; dispense the medical cannabis according to the provisions of this section; and engage in any related activities that are necessary for the operation, such as possessing, storing, and transporting the medical cannabis.

AB546-AA3,11,14 (b) A licensed dispensary may dispense medical cannabis only to a person who presents a valid registry identification card issued under s. 146.44.

AB546-AA3,11,16 (c) The department shall determine which and how many applicants for a dispensary license receive a license on the basis of all of the following:

AB546-AA3,11,17 1. Convenience to treatment teams and the preferences of treatment teams.

AB546-AA3,11,19 2. The ability of an applicant to provide to treatment teams a sufficient amount of medical cannabis.

AB546-AA3,11,21 3. The experience the applicant has running a nonprofit organization or a business.

AB546-AA3,11,23 4. The preferences of the governing bodies with jurisdiction over the area in which the applicants are located.

AB546-AA3,11,25 5. The ability of the applicant to keep records confidential and maintain a safe and secure facility.

AB546-AA3,12,1 6. The ability of the applicant to abide by the prohibitions under sub. (3) (b).

AB546-AA3,12,10 (8) Laboratories. The department shall register entities as medical cannabis testing laboratories. The department may not register a laboratory if any principal officer or board member of the entity has any financial interest in a licensee or an applicant for a license under this section. A registered laboratory may obtain samples of medical cannabis from a licensed processor; test and certify the tetrahydrocannabinol content of the medical cannabis and whether the medical cannabis contains any contaminants; and engage in any related activities that are necessary for the operation, such as possessing, storing, and transporting the medical cannabis. Registered laboratories shall perform the following services:

AB546-AA3,12,12 (a) Testing medical cannabis for potency and for mold, fungus, pesticides, and other contaminants.

AB546-AA3,12,14 (b) Researching findings related to medical cannabis, including findings that identify potentially unsafe levels of contaminants.

AB546-AA3,12,16 (c) Providing training to persons who hold registry identification cards, treatment teams, and persons employed by licensees on all of the following:

AB546-AA3,12,18 1. The safe and efficient cultivation, harvesting, packaging, labeling, and distribution of medical cannabis.

AB546-AA3,12,19 2. Security and inventory accountability procedures.

AB546-AA3,12,20 3. The most recent research on medical cannabis.

AB546-AA3,12,24 (9) Confidentiality. The department may disclose to a law enforcement agency only information necessary to verify that a licensee has a valid license issued under this section, an entity is complying with rules promulgated under sub. (11), or a laboratory is registered under sub. (8).

AB546-AA3,13,3 (10) Inspections. The department may inspect, without prior notice, the premises of an applicant, licensee, or registered laboratory and any records required to be retained by a licensee or registered laboratory.

AB546-AA3,13,7 (11) Rules. (a) The department shall promulgate rules to administer and enforce this section. Rules promulgated under this subsection shall be designed to promote and prioritize producers, processors, and dispensaries that are small, local organizations.

AB546-AA3,13,20 (b) When promulgating rules under this section, the department may, as necessary, use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), when promulgating emergency rules under this subsection, the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), initial emergency rules and subsequent emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the date on which permanent rules take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. and 1g., for emergency rules promulgated under this subsection, the department is not required to prepare a statement of scope of the rules or to submit the proposed rules in final draft form to the governor for approval.

AB546-AA3,18 Section 18. 101.123 (1) (h) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB546-AA3,13,23 101.123 (1) (h) (intro.) “Smoking" means burning or holding, or inhaling or exhaling smoke from, any of the following items containing tobacco or cannabis:

AB546-AA3,19 Section 19. 102.43 (9) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB546-AA3,14,4 102.43 (9) (e) The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to misconduct, as defined in s. 108.04 (5), or substantial fault, as defined in s. 108.04 (5g) (a), by the employee connected with the employee's work, subject to s. 108.04 (5m).

AB546-AA3,20 Section 20. 106.50 (1m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB546-AA3,14,13 106.50 (1m) (h) “Discriminate" means to segregate, separate, exclude, or treat a person or class of persons unequally in a manner described in sub. (2), (2m), or (2r) because of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, or family status, ; status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking,; whether the person holds, or has applied for, a registry identification card, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (g), has been the subject of a written certification, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (h), or is or has been a member of a treatment team, as defined in s. 961.01 (20t); lawful source of income,; age,; or ancestry.

AB546-AA3,21 Section 21. 108.04 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB546-AA3,14,15 108.04 (5m) Use of medical cannabis. (a) In this subsection:

AB546-AA3,14,16 1. “Medical cannabis” has the meaning given in s. 94.57 (1) (f).

AB546-AA3,14,17 2. “Registry identification card” has the meaning given in s. 146.44 (1) (g).

AB546-AA3,14,18 3. “Written certification” has the meaning given in s. 146.44 (1) (h).

AB546-AA3,14,20 (b) Notwithstanding sub. (5), “misconduct," for purposes of sub. (5), does not include any of the following:

AB546-AA3,14,24 1. A positive test for cannabis components or metabolites, in the absence of other actions or conduct that constitute misconduct under sub. (5). This subdivision applies only with respect to an employee with a valid written certification and a valid registry identification card.

AB546-AA3,15,2 2. A violation of the employer's policy concerning the use of cannabis, if all of the following apply:

AB546-AA3,15,4 a. The employee was using medical cannabis in accordance with a valid written certification.

AB546-AA3,15,5 b. The employee held a valid registry identification card.

AB546-AA3,15,7 c. The employee did not use or possess medical cannabis on the employer's premises or during working hours.

AB546-AA3,15,9 d. The use did not impair the individual's ability to perform adequately the job-related responsibilities of that individual's employment.

AB546-AA3,15,11 (c) Notwithstanding sub. (5g), “substantial fault," for purposes of sub. (5g), does not include any of the following:

AB546-AA3,15,15 1. A positive test for cannabis components or metabolites, in the absence of other acts or omissions that constitute substantial fault under sub. (5). This subdivision applies only with respect to an employee with a valid written certification and a valid registry identification card.

AB546-AA3,15,17 2. A violation of the employer's policy concerning the use of cannabis, if all of the following apply:

AB546-AA3,15,19 a. The employee was using medical cannabis in accordance with a valid written certification.

AB546-AA3,15,20 b. The employee held a valid registry identification card.

AB546-AA3,15,22 c. The employee did not use or possess medical cannabis on the employer's premises or during working hours.

AB546-AA3,15,24 d. The use did not impair the individual's ability to perform adequately the job-related responsibilities of that individual's employment.

AB546-AA3,22 Section 22. 111.32 (15) of the statutes is created to read:

AB546-AA3,16,5 111.32 (15) “Use of a lawful product off the employer's premises during nonworking hours” includes the use of medical cannabis, as defined in s. 94.57 (1) (f), off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, but only if such use is in accordance with a valid written certification, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (h), and the individual holds a valid registry identification card, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (g).

AB546-AA3,23 Section 23. 111.34 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB546-AA3,16,13 111.34 (1) (c) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., refusing to hire or employ, barring, suspending, or terminating an individual, or discriminating against an individual in promotion, in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment, based on the individual's use of medical cannabis, as defined in s. 94.57 (1) (f), if such use is in accordance with a valid written certification, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (h), and the individual holds a valid registry identification card, as defined in s. 146.44 (1) (g).

AB546-AA3,16,14 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if any of the following apply:

AB546-AA3,16,16 a. The employee uses or possesses medical cannabis on the employer's premises or during working hours.

AB546-AA3,16,18 b. The use impairs the individual's ability to undertake adequately the job-related responsibilities of that individual's employment.

AB546-AA3,16,21 c. The refusal, bar, suspension, termination, or discrimination is necessary for the employer to avoid losing a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.

AB546-AA3,24 Section 24. 111.35 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB546-AA3,17,2 111.35 (2) (e) Conflicts with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation. This paragraph does not apply with respect to any conflict between the use of medical cannabis described in s. 111.32 (15) and violations concerning marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols under 21 USC 841 to 865.

AB546-AA3,25 Section 25. 111.35 (2) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB546-AA3,17,6 111.35 (2) (f) In the case of use of medical cannabis described in s. 111.32 (15), would result in the employer losing a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law or regulations.

AB546-AA3,26 Section 26. 146.44 of the statutes is created to read:

AB546-AA3,17,9 146.44 Medical Cannabis Registry Program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB546-AA3,17,11 (a) “Applicant" means a person who is applying for a registry identification card under sub. (2) (a) or (ac).

AB546-AA3,17,13 (ag) “Bona fide practitioner-patient relationship" means a relationship between the practitioner and the patient that includes all of the following:

AB546-AA3,17,15 1. An assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition by the practitioner, including an in-person physical examination if appropriate.

AB546-AA3,17,17 2. A consultation between the practitioner and the patient with respect to the patient's debilitating medical condition or treatment.

AB546-AA3,17,19 3. Availability by the practitioner to provide follow-up care and treatment to the patient, including patient examinations.

AB546-AA3,17,20 (b) “Debilitating medical condition or treatment" means any of the following:

AB546-AA3,17,25 1. Cancer, glaucoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a positive test for the presence of HIV, antigen or nonantigenic products of HIV, or an antibody to HIV, Crohn's disease, a hepatitis C virus infection, Alzheimer's disease, amytrophic lateral sclerosis, nail-patella syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or the treatment of these conditions.

AB546-AA3,18,1 2. Opioid abatement or reduction or treatment for opioid addiction.

AB546-AA3,18,5 3. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment of such a disease or condition that causes cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis.

AB546-AA3,18,8 4. Any other medical condition or any other treatment for a medical condition designated as a debilitating medical condition or treatment in rules promulgated by the department of health services under s. 961.436 (5).

AB546-AA3,18,9 (c) “Medical cannabis” has the meaning given in s. 94.57 (1) (f).

AB546-AA3,18,11 (cm) “Out-of-state registry identification card" means a document that is valid as provided under sub. (7) (f).

AB546-AA3,18,14 (cp) “Practitioner” means a person licensed as a physician, as defined in s. 448.01 (5), a physician assistant, as defined in s. 448.01 (6), or an advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2).

AB546-AA3,18,16 (d) “Primary caregiver" means a person who has agreed to help a qualifying patient use or acquire medical cannabis and who has a registry identification card.

AB546-AA3,18,20 (e) “Qualifying patient" means a person who has been diagnosed in the course of a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship as having or undergoing a debilitating medical condition or treatment but does not include a person under the age of 18 years unless all of the following apply:

AB546-AA3,18,23 1. The person's practitioner has explained the potential risks and benefits of using medical cannabis to the person and to a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of the person.