10/18/13

Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

Print Acts 2012

CHAPTER 369 AN ACT F O R T HE HUMANIT ARIAN MEDICAL USE O F MARIJ UANA.

BeitenactedbythePeople,andbytheirauthority,asfollows: Section1.PurposeandIntent. ThecitizensofMassachusettsintendthatthereshouldbenopunishmentunderstatelawfor qualifyingpatients,physiciansandhealthcareprofessionals,personalcaregiversforpatients,or medicalmarijuanatreatmentcenteragentsforthemedicaluseofmarijuana,asdefinedherein. Section2.AsusedinthisLaw,thefollowingwordsshall,unlessthecontextclearlyrequires otherwise,havethefollowingmeanings: (A)Cardholdershallmeanaqualifyingpatient,apersonalcaregiver,oradispensaryagentofa medicalmarijuanatreatmentcenterwhohasbeenissuedandpossessesavalidregistration card. (B)Cultivationregistrationshallmeanaregistrationissuedtoamedicalmarijuanatreatment centerforgrowingmarijuanaformedicaluseunderthetermsofthisAct,ortoaqualifiedpatient orpersonalcaregiverunderthetermsofSection11. (C)Debilitatingmedicalconditionshallmean: Cancer,glaucoma,positivestatusforhumanimmunodeficiencyvirus,acquiredimmune deficiencysyndrome(AIDS),hepatitisC,amyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS),Crohn'sdisease, Parkinson'sdisease,multiplesclerosisandotherconditionsasdeterminedinwritingbya qualifyingpatient'sphysician. (D)DepartmentshallmeantheDepartmentofPublicHealthoftheCommonwealthof Massachusetts. (E)Dispensaryagentshallmeananemployee,staffvolunteer,officer,orboardmemberofa nonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenter,whoshallbeatleasttwentyone(21)yearsofage. (F)Enclosed,lockedfacilityshallmeanacloset,room,greenhouse,orotherareaequippedwith locksorothersecuritydevices,accessibleonlytodispensaryagents,patients,orpersonal caregivers. (G)Marijuana,hasthemeaninggivenmarihuanainChapter94CoftheGeneralLaws. (H)Medicalmarijuanatreatmentcentershallmeananotforprofitentity,asdefinedby Massachusettslawonly,registeredunderthislaw,thatacquires,cultivates,possesses, processes(includingdevelopmentofrelatedproductssuchasfood,tinctures,aerosols,oils,or ointments),transfers,transports,sells,distributes,dispenses,oradministersmarijuana,products containingmarijuana,relatedsupplies,oreducationalmaterialstoqualifyingpatientsortheir personalcaregivers. (I)Medicaluseofmarijuanashallmeantheacquisition,cultivation,possession,processing, (includingdevelopmentofrelatedproductssuchasfood,tinctures,aerosols,oils,orointments), transfer,transportation,sale,distribution,dispensing,oradministrationofmarijuana,forthe
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Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

benefitofqualifyingpatientsinthetreatmentofdebilitatingmedicalconditions,orthesymptoms thereof. (J)Personalcaregivershallmeanapersonwhoisatleasttwentyone(21)yearsoldwhohas agreedtoassistwithaqualifyingpatient'smedicaluseofmarijuana.Personalcaregiversare prohibitedfromconsumingmarijuanaobtainedforthepersonal,medicaluseofthequalifying patient. Anemployeeofahospiceprovider,nursing,ormedicalfacilityprovidingcaretoaqualifying patientmayalsoserveasapersonalcaregiver. (K)Qualifyingpatientshallmeanapersonwhohasbeendiagnosedbyalicensedphysicianas havingadebilitatingmedicalcondition. (L)RegistrationcardshallmeanapersonalidentificationcardissuedbytheDepartmenttoa qualifyingpatient,personalcaregiver,ordispensaryagent.Theregistrationcardshallverifythata physicianhasprovidedawrittencertificationtothequalifyingpatient,thatthepatienthas designatedtheindividualasapersonalcaregiver,orthatamedicaltreatmentcenterhasmetthe termsofSection9andSection10ofthislaw.Theregistrationcardshallidentifyforthe DepartmentandlawenforcementthoseindividualswhoareexemptfromMassachusettscriminal andcivilpenaltiesforconductpursuanttothemedicaluseofmarijuana. (M)Sixtydaysupplymeansthatamountofmarijuanathataqualifyingpatientwouldreasonably beexpectedtoneedoveraperiodofsixtydaysfortheirpersonalmedicaluse. (N)Writtencertificationmeansadocumentsignedbyalicensedphysician,statingthatinthe physician'sprofessionalopinion,thepotentialbenefitsofthemedicaluseofmarijuanawould likelyoutweighthehealthrisksforthequalifyingpatient.Suchcertificationshallbemadeonlyin thecourseofabonafidephysicianpatientrelationshipandshallspecifythequalifyingpatient's debilitatingmedicalcondition(s). Section3.ProtectionfromStateProsecutionandPenaltiesforHealthCareProfessionals Aphysician,andotherhealthcareprofessionalsunderaphysician'ssupervision,shallnotbe penalizedunderMassachusettslaw,inanymanner,ordeniedanyrightorprivilege,for: (a)Advisingaqualifyingpatientabouttherisksandbenefitsofmedicaluseofmarijuanaor (b)Providingaqualifyingpatientwithwrittencertification,baseduponafullassessmentofthe qualifyingpatient'smedicalhistoryandcondition,thatthemedicaluseofmarijuanamaybenefita particularqualifyingpatient. Section4.ProtectionFromStateProsecutionandPenaltiesforQualifyingPatientsandPersonal Caregivers AnypersonmeetingtherequirementsunderthislawshallnotbepenalizedunderMassachusetts lawinanymanner,ordeniedanyrightorprivilege,forsuchactions. Aqualifyingpatientorapersonalcaregivershallnotbesubjecttoarrestorprosecution,orcivil penalty,forthemedicaluseofmarijuanaprovidedheorshe: (a)Possessesnomoremarijuanathanisnecessaryforthepatient'spersonal,medicaluse,not exceedingtheamountnecessaryforasixtydaysupplyand (b)Presentshisorherregistrationcardtoanylawenforcementofficialwhoquestionsthepatient orcaregiverregardinguseofmarijuana.
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Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

Section5.ProtectionFromStateProsecutionandPenaltiesforDispensaryAgents. Adispensaryagentshallnotbesubjecttoarrest,prosecution,orcivilpenalty,under Massachusettslaw,foractionstakenundertheauthorityofamedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenter, providedheorshe: (a)Presentshisorherregistrationcardtoanylawenforcementofficialwhoquestionstheagent concerningtheirmarijuanarelatedactivitiesand (b)Isactinginaccordancewithalltherequirementsofthislaw. Section6.ProtectionAgainstForfeitureandArrest (A)Thelawfulpossession,cultivation,transfer,transport,distribution,ormanufactureofmedical marijuanaasauthorizedbythislawshallnotresultintheforfeitureorseizureofanyproperty. (B)Nopersonshallbearrestedorprosecutedforanycriminaloffensesolelyforbeinginthe presenceofmedicalmarijuanaoritsuseasauthorizedbythislaw. Section7.LimitationsofLaw (A)Nothinginthislawallowstheoperationofamotorvehicle,boat,oraircraftwhileunderthe influenceofmarijuana. (B)Nothinginthislawrequiresanyhealthinsuranceprovider,oranygovernmentagencyor authority,toreimburseanypersonfortheexpensesofthemedicaluseofmarijuana. (C)Nothinginthislawrequiresanyhealthcareprofessionaltoauthorizetheuseofmedical marijuanaforapatient. (D)Nothinginthislawrequiresanyaccommodationofanyonsitemedicaluseofmarijuanain anyplaceofemployment,schoolbusoronschoolgrounds,inanyyouthcenter,inany correctionalfacility,orofsmokingmedicalmarijuanainanypublicplace. (E)NothinginthislawsupersedesMassachusettslawprohibitingthepossession,cultivation, transport,distribution,orsaleofmarijuanafornonmedicalpurposes. (F)Nothinginthislawrequirestheviolationoffederallaworpurportstogiveimmunityunder federallaw. (G)Nothinginthislawposesanobstacletofederalenforcementoffederallaw. Section8.Departmenttodefinepresumptive60daysupplyforqualifyingpatients. Within120daysoftheeffectivedateofthislaw,thedepartmentshallissueregulationsdefining thequantityofmarijuanathatcouldreasonablybepresumedtobeasixtydaysupplyfor qualifyingpatients,basedonthebestavailableevidence.Thispresumptionastoquantitymaybe overcomewithevidenceofaparticularqualifyingpatient'sappropriatemedicaluse. Section9.Registrationofnonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenters. (A)Medicalmarijuanatreatmentcentersshallregisterwiththedepartment. (B)Notlaterthanninetydaysafterreceivinganapplicationforanonprofitmedicalmarijuana treatmentcenter,thedepartmentshallregisterthenonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenterto acquire,process,possess,transfer,transport,sell,distribute,dispense,andadministermarijuana formedicaluse,andshallalsoissueacultivationregistrationif: 1.Theprospectivenonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenterhassubmitted: (a)AnapplicationfeeinanamounttobedeterminedbythedepartmentconsistentwithSection 13ofthislaw.
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Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

(b)Anapplication,including: (i)Thelegalnameandphysicaladdressofthetreatmentcenterandthephysicaladdressofone additionallocation,ifany,wheremarijuanawillbecultivated. (ii)Thename,addressanddateofbirthofeachprincipalofficerandboardmember. (c)Operatingproceduresconsistentwithdepartmentrulesforoversight,includingcultivationand storageofmarijuanaonlyinenclosed,lockedfacilities. 2.Noneoftheprincipalofficersorboardmembershasservedasaprincipalofficerorboard memberforamedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenterthathashaditsregistrationcertificaterevoked. (C)Inthefirstyearaftertheeffectivedate,theDepartmentshallissueregistrationsforuptothirty fivenonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenters,providedthatatleastonetreatmentcenter shallbelocatedineachcounty,andnotmorethanfiveshallbelocatedinanyonecounty.Inthe eventtheDepartmentdeterminesinafutureyearthatthenumberoftreatmentcentersis insufficienttomeetpatientneeds,theDepartmentshallhavethepowertoincreaseormodifythe numberofregisteredtreatmentcenters. (D)Amedicaltreatmentcenterregisteredunderthissection,anditsdispensaryagentsregistered underSection10,shallnotbepenalizedorarrestedunderMassachusettslawforacquiring, possessing,cultivating,processing,transferring,transporting,selling,distributing,anddispensing marijuana,productscontainingmarijuana,andrelatedsuppliesandeducationalmaterials,to qualifyingpatientsortheirpersonalcaregivers. Section10.Registrationofmedicaltreatmentcenterdispensaryagents. (A)AdispensaryagentshallberegisteredwiththeDepartmentbeforevolunteeringorworkingat amedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenter. (B)AtreatmentcentermustapplytotheDepartmentforaregistrationcardforeachaffiliated dispensaryagentbysubmittingthename,addressanddateofbirthoftheagent. (C)Aregisterednonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcentershallnotifythedepartmentwithin onebusinessdayifadispensaryagentceasestobeassociatedwiththecenter,andtheagent's registrationcardshallbeimmediatelyrevoked. (D)Nooneshallbeadispensaryagentwhohasbeenconvictedofafelonydrugoffense.The DepartmentisauthorizedtoconductcriminalrecordcheckswiththeDepartmentofCriminal JusticeInformationtoenforcethisprovision. Section11.HardshipCultivationRegistrations. TheDepartmentshallissueacultivationregistrationtoaqualifyingpatientwhoseaccesstoa medicaltreatmentcenterislimitedbyverifiedfinancialhardship,aphysicalincapacitytoaccess reasonabletransportation,orthelackofatreatmentcenterwithinareasonabledistanceofthe patient'sresidence.TheDepartmentmaydenyaregistrationbasedontheprovisionoffalse informationbytheapplicant.Suchregistrationshallallowthepatientorthepatient'spersonal caregivertocultivatealimitednumberofplants,sufficienttomaintaina60daysupplyof marijuana,andshallrequirecultivationandstorageonlyinanenclosed,lockedfacility.The departmentshallissueregulationsconsistentwiththissectionwithin120daysoftheeffective dateofthislaw.Untilthedepartmentissuessuchfinalregulations,thewrittenrecommendationof aqualifyingpatient'sphysicianshallconstitutealimitedcultivationregistration.
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Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

Section12.Medicalmarijuanaregistrationcardsforqualifyingpatientsanddesignated caregivers. (A)Aqualifyingpatientmayapplytothedepartmentforamedicalmarijuanaregistrationcardby submitting 1.Writtencertificationfromaphysician. 2.Anapplication,including: (a)Name,addressunlesshomeless,anddateofbirth. (b)Name,addressanddateofbirthofthequalifyingpatient'spersonalcaregiver,ifany. Section13.DepartmentimplementationofRegulationsandFees. Within120daysoftheeffectivedateofthislaw,thedepartmentshallissueregulationsforthe implementationofSections9through12ofthisLaw.Thedepartmentshallsetapplicationfeesfor nonprofitmedicalmarijuanatreatmentcenterssoastodefraytheadministrativecostsofthe medicalmarijuanaprogramandtherebymakethislawrevenueneutral. Untiltheapprovaloffinalregulations,writtencertificationbyaphysicianshallconstitutea registrationcardforaqualifyingpatient.Untiltheapprovaloffinalregulations,acertifiedmail returnreceiptshowingcompliancewithSection12(A)(2)(b)abovebyaqualifyingpatient,anda photocopyoftheapplication,shallconstitutearegistrationcardforthatpatient'spersonal caregiver. Section14.PenaltiesforFraudulentActs. (A)Thedepartment,afterahearing,mayrevokeanyregistrationcardissuedunderthislawfora willfulviolationofthislaw.Thestandardofproofforrevocationshallbeapreponderanceofthe evidence.ArevocationdecisionshallbereviewableintheSuperiorCourt. (B)Thefraudulentuseofamedicalmarijuanaregistrationcardorcultivationregistrationshallbe amisdemeanorpunishablebyupto6monthsinthehouseofcorrection,orafineupto$500,but ifsuchfraudulentuseisforthedistribution,sale,ortraffickingofmarijuanafornonmedicaluse forprofititshallbeafelonypunishablebyupto5yearsinstateprisonoruptotwoandonehalf yearsinthehouseofcorrection. Section15.Confidentiality Thedepartmentshallmaintainaconfidentiallistofthepersonsissuedmedicalmarijuana registrationcards.Individualnamesandotheridentifyinginformationonthelistshallbeexempt fromtheprovisionsofMassachusettsPublicRecordsLaw,M.G.L.Chapter66,section10,and notsubjecttodisclosure,excepttoemployeesofthedepartmentinthecourseoftheirofficial dutiesandtoMassachusettslawenforcementofficialswhenverifyingacardholder'sregistration. Section16.EffectiveDate. ThislawshallbeeffectiveJanuary1,2013. Section17.Severability. Theprovisionsofthislawareseverableandifanyclause,sentence,paragraphorsectionofthis measure,oranapplicationthereof,shallbeadjudgedbyanycourtofcompetentjurisdictiontobe invalid,suchjudgmentshallnotaffect,impair,orinvalidatetheremainderthereofbutshallbe confinedinitsoperationtotheclause,sentence,paragraph,sectionorapplicationadjudged invalid.
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Session Laws: CHAPTER 369 of the Acts of 2012

ELECTION,2012.

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