An Act To Establish a Data Collection Program To Monitor Effects of Marijuana Regulation

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period due to the passage of Initiated Bill 2015, chapter 5, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana effective January 30, 2017; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §2455  is enacted to read:

§ 2455.  Retail marijuana data collection and monitoring program

A program to collect data for the purpose of monitoring the effect on the State from the legalization and regulation of retail marijuana is established in the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall convene a task force of volunteer experts with varied areas of expertise to identify data collection measures, data sources and protocols for data gathering and reporting for the program. Data must be collected from a variety of sources covering a variety of sectors, including, but not limited to, public safety, road safety, public health, economic effects and effects on youth, the workplace and treatment and health care systems. The program shall publish reports at least on an annual basis for the purpose of providing this data to the Legislature, the Governor's Office and appropriate departments overseeing the implementation of the retail marijuana laws. This data must be used to inform needed adjustments, law changes and rule changes to minimize the financial and social costs to the people of this State.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143

Initiative: Provides funding to establish a Public Service Coordinator II position to develop and implement a data collection and monitoring program for the utilization and regulation of retail marijuana.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	1.000	1.000
Personal Services	$107,822	$104,627
All Other	$6,278	$6,278
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$114,100	$110,905

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a program in the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to collect data for the purpose of monitoring the effect on the State from the legalization and regulation of retail marijuana. Reports must be published at least annually to provide data to the Legislature, the Governor's Office and appropriate state government departments overseeing the implementation of the retail marijuana laws to be used to inform needed adjustments, law changes and rule changes to minimize the financial and social costs to the people of this State.