MJBizMag March 2023 - 21

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
Georgia
Progress toward launching a regulated medical marijuana market in Georgia was stymied after the
state cannabis regulator rescinded recently approved industry rules.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) plans to revise the rules soon and try
again.
The GMCC had signed off on the rules in late January, paving the way for the sale of low-THC cannabis
oil to registered patients.
However, GMCC Chair Sidney Johnson said notice of the January meeting was not provided to Georgia's
Office of Legislative Counsel, as required by state law.
The GMCC posted a notice of proposed rulemaking on Feb. 6.
" We're going to take advantage of this opportunity to make updates to the rules based on feedback
we've received so far in the process, " Johnson said.
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) pushed the filing deadline
for the next round of social equity marijuana retail license applicants to March 3 and created an
interactive map for applicants to confirm whether addresses within a census tract qualify under social
equity criteria.
A lottery will dictate the state's 55 new adult-use retail license winners.
" We are committed to maximizing the number of people with the opportunity to participate in this
lottery, " IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto Jr. said in a news release.
" We encourage anyone interested in applying for the lottery to consult the resources available on
our website to make sure they're prepared for the application process and understand what the postlottery
process entails. "
Illinois' first round of adult-use business approvals included 192 licenses.
Indiana
Bipartisan House Bill 1039 would allow cannabis access for adults 21 and older as well as patients with
a doctor's recommendation-but only when marijuana is no longer federally illegal.
The bill might represent the best shot at cannabis reform in Indiana, as Gov. Eric Holcomb has
opposed granting clemency for state marijuana offenses because of federal prohibition.
Only CBD and products classified as derived from hemp are legal in Indiana, despite several efforts
to advance medical marijuana legislation in the state.
Another bill, HB 1311, introduced by state Rep. Cindy Ziemke, would legalize cannabis under a model
similar to that in nearby Michigan, where adult-use marijuana has been legal since 2018. But it's
unclear if Ziemke's bill will even receive a hearing in a key state house committee.
Iowa
Medical marijuana dispensaries in Iowa generated $10.2 million in sales in 2022. The 65% increase from
2021 was driven by new patients obtaining MMJ cards.
From January until November 2022, the state had nearly 15,000 cardholders, nearly doubling the
number from all of 2021, according to the figures from the Iowa Department of Health and Human
Services.
In August, the program surpassed $1 million in monthly sales for the first time and maintained that
benchmark through the end of the year.
The Iowa Cannabidiol Board, which presents an annual report in late December, laid out several
recommendations for the medical marijuana program, including:
* Eliminating state sales tax on MMJ products.
* Altering the tax code to enable MMJ companies to deduct business expenses at the state level.
* Expanding licensing beyond the five already issued.
mjbizdaily.com | March 2023 21

https://idfpr.illinois.gov/Forms/AUC/Social%20Equity%20Criteria%20Primer.pdf https://idfpr.illinois.gov/Forms/AUC/Social%20Equity%20Criteria%20Primer.pdf https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/house/1311 https://www.ibj.com/articles/house-republican-ziemke-to-file-sweeping-marijuana-legalization-bill https://www.ibj.com/articles/house-republican-ziemke-to-file-sweeping-marijuana-legalization-bill https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/234/Files/2022%20Annual%20Report%20-%20Medical%20Cannabidiol%20Board.pdf https://mjbizdaily.com/iowa-awards-two-additional-medical-cannabis-dispensary-licenses/ http://www.mjbizdaily.com

MJBizMag March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MJBizMag March 2023