Among the last-minute bills taken up by the Michigan House Wednesday night was Rep. Kevin COLEMAN (D-Westland) legislation allowing 19-year-olds to work at marijuana establishments, which failed to receive the necessary three-fourths supermajority votes.
Coleman’s HB 4322 was pulled down from the board on Wednesday and temporarily passed after appearing to not have the support of 83 legislators.
His bill lowers the age required of marijuana establishment employees and volunteers from 21 to 19, amending the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, which stemmed from a 2018 ballot initiative.
Coleman’s bill allows the minimum employment age for recreational marijuana establishments to line up with requirements for medical marijuana in the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act of 2016.
But HB 4322 sets the minimum age at 19, instead of 18, which Rep. Tyrone CARTER (D-Detroit) said during committee was his requirement, expressing concern that high school students could work at a recreational marijuana establishment while still in school if the age was set lower. (See “Marijuana Industry Employment Age Lowered To 19 Under Bill,” 4/14/23)
Coleman said despite the higher minimum age in his bill, there was some concern from people in both caucuses about lowering the age at all and increasing access to what was an illegal drug fewer than 10 years ago.
In response, he added an amendment on Wednesday requiring an employee under 21 to have a supervising adult on site at all times.
He said this would ensure that companies aren’t hiring a 19- or 20-year-old and “letting them run the place.”
Coleman said the amendment made the bill more palatable for Democrats, but it still fell a little short of the necessary supermajority, despite unanimous support out of committee.
During the May 16 Regulatory Reform Committee hearing, Coleman’s bill passed 15-0, with support from the Michigan Chamber and no testimony or cards in opposition.
He testified in April that the bills would address the statewide worker shortage also affecting the cannabis industry, along with giving more students an opportunity to intern and learn about the marijuana industry while in college programs.
Coleman added that the bills aren’t about young folks consuming cannabis or changing their behaviors towards it, but allowing them to work in a growing and lucrative industry.
He wasn’t anticipating too much opposition to the bill, but acknowledged that 83 votes is a hard number to get to at the moment.
But Coleman said he plans to continue conversations while the bill is on pause.
This news alert provided by the Tim Beck from the Safer Michigan Coalition.