Substitute House Bill No. 5150 is a comprehensive legislative proposal that amends existing laws concerning the regulation of cannabis, hemp, and related products. The bill revises definitions and classifications within the state's controlled substances laws, effective July 1, 2024. It modifies the definition of "cannabis-type substances" to exclude seeds of the cannabis plant and clarifies that substances derived from hemp, as defined in section 22-61l, are not controlled substances. The bill also updates the roles of healthcare professionals in administering controlled substances and redefines drug paraphernalia to exclude products used for testing substances to prevent accidental overdose. Changes to the definition of "marijuana" include deleting references to seeds and synthetic cannabinoids, except as specified, and adding "infused beverages" to the list of exceptions. The bill also introduces new definitions for "manufactured cannabinoid" and "synthetic cannabinoid," setting limits on THC content in hemp products, and updating the regulatory framework for cannabis establishments.

The bill outlines procedures for cannabis testing, including testing for contaminants and active ingredient analysis, and details the actions to be taken if a marijuana sample fails testing. It defines various roles and entities in the cannabis industry, such as "cannabis testing laboratory" and "equity joint venture," and addresses the concept of "disproportionately impacted area" for determining areas affected by historical drug-related offenses and unemployment rates. The bill includes insertions and deletions that refine the legal language, such as the insertion of the word "and" in the definition of "Practitioner" and the deletion of a comma in the definition of "THC." It also specifies application fees for social equity applicants and introduces a new fee for each infused beverage container sold by cannabis establishments. The bill aims to adjust the regulatory framework for cannabis establishments, focusing on social equity applicants and the financial aspects of licensing and product sales.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 30-63
File No. 199: 30-63
FIN Joint Favorable: 30-63
File No. 646: 30-63
Public Act No. 24-76: 30-63