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Cannabis Licenses Carry High Capitalization Costs

As has long been suspected, the state announced last week that those seeking licenses from the Michigan Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) beginning in December will undergo an evaluation of their capitalization. In other words, the state intends to evaluate an applicant’s ability to operate and maintain a marijuana facility.The advisory from the state comes ahead of the implementatio

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Can Continue to Operate

After more than two months of mixed signals, current medical marijuana users in Michigan will be relieved to hear that the Michigan Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (BMMR) will not force existing dispensaries to close prior to the implementation of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) next month. The announcement comes after an uproar of complaints from medical marijuana pa

Emerging Contaminants, Emerging Concerns

Most contaminants share a common trait: stop its release and the ecosystem will dilute the concentrations or degrade the contaminant until it is no longer a threat to human health or the environment. Yet greater attention and scrutiny is now being focused on the potential harmful effects of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), substances that appear to be highly mobile, easily enter the hu

Michigan Medical Marijuana Bureau Offers Wave of New Info on Expected Regulations

The bits and pieces of information medical marijuana advocates and business interests have longed for from the Michigan Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) are trickling with increasing frequency. The BMMR, which is implementing the Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA), announced guidance on a number of fronts for all applicants ahead of December 15th – the date

Kim Sveska Presents: The Opioid Epidemic: What Happens to Health Care Professionals “Breaking Bad”

FBMJ’s attorney, Kim Sveska, was a featured speaker at the Sparrow 4th Annual Pain Symposium on September 28, 2017 at the Eagle Eye Conference Center in Bath, Michigan. Sveska’s presentation titled “The Opioid Epidemic – What Happens to Health Care Professionals ‘Breaking Bad’” discussed the new, aggressive approach that Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LA

Michigan Medical Marijuana Bureau to Use Two-step Application Process to Move Things Along

Those seeking permits under Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) will be required to go through a two-step application process – pre-qualification and license qualification. The process, to be administered through the Michigan Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR), will begin accepting applications on December 15, 2017. The good news here is for those applicant

FBMJ Attorneys Co-author Article on Perfluoroalkyl Substances – in Fall Issue of the SBM Environmental Journal

FBMJ attorneys Richard Baron, Benjamin Fruchey and Nicholas Andrew co-authored “Perfluoroalkyl Compounds: An Emerging Contaminant in Michigan,” published in the Fall 2017 issue of the State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Journal.  The article focuses on the impact of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as emerging contaminants in the State of Michigan, while also providing a genera

Marijuana Bureau: New Law Will Allow Marijuana to Be Grown, Processed, Dispensed All at One Location

In a bit of a surprise announcement, the Michigan Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) issued an Advisory Bulletin on September 21, 2017 stating that licensees under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA) will be permitted to grow, process and dispense marijuana all at the same location.Previous statements from the BMMR and the Michigan Department of Licensing and

Marijuana Bureau: Dispensaries Can Remain Open, Application and Licensing Fees to Be at Least $14,000

Three months before the state first accepts licenses under the new Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA), the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR), an organization contained within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), is zeroing in on what the nonrefundable application fees will be for those seeking licenses. Meanwhile, the Michigan Medical Mari

Michigan Medical Marijuana Board: Dispensaries Need to Shut Down

Members of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Licensing Board (Board) sent a clear warning to owners of dispensaries now in operation – shut down the dispensary in the coming weeks or you will not be permitted to operate going forward under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act ( MMFLA) that is scheduled to begin accepting applications in December.In announcing the directive at the Board's