may have been one of the few bills written this year where both Democrats and Republicans lawmakers share similar viewpoints. Republican state representative introduced the bill back in January.
The bill鈥檚 original version focused on giving medical marijuana patients the option to renew their medical cards with a physician remotely.
That鈥檚 a big deal for Nathan Andrews. He鈥檚 in his late 70s and drives more than thirty miles to visit his preferred doctor in person every seven months.
鈥淚t鈥檒l help out really good. See, I started going out there on [U.S. route] 319 on the east side. I could go to one closer but that鈥檚 the first one I went to, so I stick to that one," said Andrews.
Late in the legislative session Democratic senators and suggested using Roach鈥檚 bill to address another issue: a lawsuit against the state over a lack of minority medical marijuana growers.
The state launched its first licensing program in 2017, but it wasn鈥檛 until five years later when the first black farmer was awarded a license.
The bill鈥檚 co-sponsor sided with Rouson and Davis鈥� proposed fix. The new law requires that licenses be awarded to Black farmers鈥攕pecifically, those who was involved in a lawsuit 20 years ago against the federal government.
In , black farmers sued alleging discrimination in farm loans. That case was settled in 1999. Licensees must still meet all other state requirements.
鈥淏y putting in the extra licenses for those individuals that have been trying now for some of you that don鈥檛 know several years to get a marijuana license, particularly involving these groups which deals with minority farmers; I think is even made the bill better,鈥� said Massullo.
According to a staff analysis, the means up to 11 black farmers who鈥檇 previously applied, but were denied licenses, can now get them.
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