Commerce panel OKs omnibus cannabis bill

The omnibus cannabis bill is moving forward, although one section is still a work-in-progress.

Quickly and without discussion, the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved the amended bill, HF1615, on a voice vote Thursday and sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee.

The committee heard testimony on the omnibus bill Wednesday. Provisions within the bill were individual bills heard previously by the committee.

The bill would remove the requirement that beverages with no more than 10 milligrams of THC be labeled as two servings, create a lower-potency hemp wholesaler license and give visiting patients to Minnesota the same rights as medical cannabis patients in the state, as well as other technical changes.

The committee successfully amended the bill Thursday to include a bipartisan agreement that allows the omnibus bill to move forward.

The amendment, in part, would strengthen medical cannabis companies’ obligation to participate in the market in anticipation of future conversations about the medical cannabis market, said Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine). Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids), sponsor of HF1615, added that he, West and Office of Cannabis Management staff are still working on the amendment’s final language.