D.C. Act 25-276. Medical Cannabis Patient Access Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2023.

AN ACT

To amend, on an emergency basis, the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999 to define the terms non-District resident and another jurisdiction, and to provide the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board with the authority to issue patient and caregiver registration cards at no cost.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Medical Cannabis Patient Access Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2023".

Sec. 2. The Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999, effective February 25, 2010 (D.C. Law 13-315; D.C. Official Code § 7-1671.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 7-1671.01) is amended as follows:

(1) The existing paragraph (1E) is redesignated as paragraph (1F).

(2) A new paragraph (1E) is added to read as follows:

"(1E) "Another jurisdiction" means any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States.".

(3) Paragraph (13B) is amended by striking the phrase "resident who" and inserting the phrase "resident who is a person who resides or is domiciled in another state, territory, foreign country, or foreign territory and who" in its place.

(4) Paragraph (19) is amended as follows:

(A) Strike the phrase "dental treatment, or" and insert the phrase "dental treatment, a patient who is a non-resident cardholder, or" in its place.

(B) Strike the phrase "provided, that a patient" and insert the phrase "provided, that a patient who is a non-resident cardholder or a patient" in its place.

(b) Section 6(b)(15) (D.C. Official Code § 7-1671.05(b)(15)) is amended by striking the phrase "Establish sliding-scale registration and annual renewal fees for all persons and entities required to register or obtain a license pursuant to this act; provided" and inserting the phrase "Establish registration, sliding-scale registration, and annual renewal fees for all persons and entities required to register or obtain a license pursuant to this act and permit the ABC Board, by rule, to make qualifying patient and caregiver registrations available at no cost; provided" in its place.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).