Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the requirement in current law that visiting qualifying patients must obtain a written certification from their own medical providers that meets the qualifications of Maine law is complicated and onerous; and
Whereas, the summer tourism season, during which visiting qualifying patients will need access to marijuana for medical use in this State, is quickly approaching; 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,’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2423-D, as amended by PL 2017, c. 452, §7, is further amended to read:
A visiting qualifying patient from another jurisdiction that authorizes the medical use of marijuana pursuant to a law recognized by the department who possesses a valid written certification as described in section 2423-B from the visiting qualifying patient's medical provider and a valid medical marijuana certification from that other jurisdiction and photographic identification or a driver's license from that jurisdiction may engage in conduct authorized for a qualifying patient under this chapter, except that a visiting qualifying patient may not:
The department shall maintain a list of other jurisdictions that authorize the medical use of marijuana and the images of the valid medical marijuana certifications from those jurisdictions and make that information available to registered caregivers and registered dispensaries.’
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following:
‘Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. It removes the requirement that a visiting qualifying patient obtain valid written certification pursuant to Maine law from the visiting patient's medical provider. It also directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to maintain a list of other jurisdictions that authorize the medical use of marijuana and the images of the valid medical marijuana certifications from those jurisdictions and make that information available to registered caregivers and registered dispensaries.