This bill amends existing legislation to establish a clear timeline for municipalities to review applications for cannabis businesses and mandates that municipalities notify the Cannabis Regulatory Commission regarding their decisions on permitting or prohibiting such businesses. Specifically, if a municipality imposes local licensing or endorsement requirements, it must set a timeline for the approval or denial of applications that does not exceed 90 days from the submission of a complete application. Additionally, municipalities are required to inform the commission of any ordinances enacted that permit or prohibit the operation of cannabis establishments, distributors, or delivery services, including details on the specific classes of businesses affected and any limitations on their numbers.

The bill also clarifies that municipalities have the authority to enact ordinances regulating the number and operation of cannabis establishments, but any prior prohibiting ordinances that do not align with the new provisions will be rendered null and void. This ensures that municipalities can only prohibit cannabis-related activities through new ordinances based on the updated authority granted by this legislation. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the application process for cannabis businesses while ensuring that municipalities maintain control over local regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24:6I-45