LANSING – Rep. Kevin COLEMAN (D-Westland) bill expanding the minimum age for marijuana industry employees from 21 to 19 heard testimony before Tuesday’s House Regulatory Reform Committee.
Currently, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act allows individuals 21 years of age or older to acquire, possess, transport or consume marijuana, including a marijuana grower, processor, transporter, retailer or microbusiness.
Robin SCHNEIDER, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, said when the state Legislature passed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act in 2016, the age for employment was set to 18.
However, when Michigan legalized marijuana, the ages for both consumption and employment were set at 21.
Schneider said that now, when a medical facility adds a recreational license, they’re essentially forced to fire any employees between the ages of 18 and 21.
HB 4322 , introduced on March 22, lowers that threshold to allow a person 19 years of age or older to manufacture, purchase, distribute and sell marijuana accessories if the person is acting on behalf of a marijuana establishment.
The bill also allows 19-year-olds to volunteer at marijuana establishments, and changes references to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency to refer instead to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency.
Coleman said he introduced the bill to address the statewide worker shortage that the cannabis industry hasn’t escaped.
No matter your thoughts about cannabis,…