Original Source:
- Tax on medicinal marijuana will drop to 4 percent in July 2020, then 2 percent the following year, and end completely in July 2022. Originally, lawmakers had proposed phasing this out over five years.
- Oversight of the program will shift from DOH to a newly created five-member Cannabis Regulatory Commission. It will likely take the remainder of the year for the group to be established. Originally, Murphy had urged lawmakers to postpone this shift until 2021.
- The state will license up to 28 new marijuana-cultivating businesses in the next 18 months, after which the commission can reassess the need and call for more if appropriate. Lawmakers had originally called for 23 new growers, while Murphy urged them to increase this to 36.
- The commission will also be required to periodically re-evaluate the number of manufacturers and dispensaries “pursuant to need,” and ensure there are options in the northern, central and southern parts of the state.
- “Consumption lounges” will be permitted in certain situations, and dispensaries can create delivery services using their own employees or hired help; these issues had raised questions for Murphy’s team as originally drafted.