The Senate Committee on the Judiciary met briefly Friday morning to discuss a bill relating to medical cannabis in West Virginia.
House Bill 2538 would add banking services for medical cannabis in the state. The proposed legislation would do the following:
- Would provide that the Treasurer shall select by competitive bid one or more financial institutions to provide banking services for the fees, penalties, and taxes collected under the Medical Cannabis Act
- Would authorize the Medical Cannabis Program Fund to receive civil penalties
- Would permit money in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund to be invested and would provide that earnings shall accrue to the Medical Cannabis Program Fund
- Would permit the Treasurer to charge fees for providing banking services
Senator Romano (D – Harrison, 12) said during the meeting said that the proposed legislation was the final piece needed to finish what the Legislature started in 2017; to provide West Virginians with access to medical cannabis if they need it.
The Committee also discussed House Bill 2600 which would provide for an alternative method to publish sample ballots for electronic voting machines. The Committee adopted a strike and insert amendment to the bill to add more clarification.
Both bills were approved by the Committee, and will be reported to the full Senate to be voted upon.
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