HB 4271 formally read into record: co-sponsors include 8 House Democrats, 8 Republicans
In Lansing a bipartisan group of lawmakers advanced the effort to legislatively embrace the intent of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA). Called the Provisioning Centers Act (PCA) and formally titled HB 4271, Rep. Michael Callton’s bill was read into the record and assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
The PCA would empower local communities to license and regulate medical marijuana commercial operations within their own borders. Contained within the Act are guidelines for who can be employed by a Center, what activities can occur at the Centers and how they interact with the patient/caregiver community.
Callton (R-Nashville) has stated he wants the centers to pass the “grandma test.” Any Center should be safe enough that your grandmother would feel comfortable there, according to Callton. For details on HB 4271’s multiple empowerments and restrictions on patient activity, read Michigan’s Provisioning Centers 2.0.
Among the Sponsors is Rep. Tom Mcmillan, R-Rochester Hills, who was recently quoted as being the very first co-sponsor to sign on. “I’ve got friends who are legitimately helped by medical marijuana… There’s a new group of Republicans saying this war on drugs has been a disaster. Eventually, we’ve got to step back and look at that,” he told the Lansing State Journal. Rep. Kevin Daley also publicly proclaimed his support for the Bill and the Centers at a wild game fundraiser held in his Dsitrict, where he pledged to continue the discussion on marijuana.
HB 4271 was introduced during the 2012 session of the House and was not advanced to a vote in Committee. At that time it was known as the Local Options Bill, HB 5580 and was sponsored by Calton, Daley and Cavanagh.
A list of co-sponsors for The Provisioning Centers Act includes:
Sam Singh (D)
Ken Yonker (R)
Tom McMillin (R)
Marcia Hovey-Wright (D)
Jim Ananich (D)
Frank Foster (R)
Greg MacMaster (R)
Peter Pettalia (R)
Jeff Irwin (D)
Woodrow Stanley (D)
Tom Stallworth (D)
Phil Cavanagh (D)
Kevin Daley (R)
Phil Potvin (R)
Jon Bumstead (R)
Brandon Dillon (D)
Support for the passage of the PCA is being coordinated by the National Patients Rights Association (NPRA), a Detroit-based organization whose goals include “to protect patient rights; encourage medical practitioners to understand the benefits and uses of medical marijuana; sustain the decision of Michigan voters to legalize marijuana for medical use; and support the existing Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) as a workable system for getting medical marijuana to those who need it,” per their website.
