Lawmakers in the Delaware House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce Committee last week advanced a proposal that would launch adult-use cannabis sales early in the state by allowing medical dispensaries to begin serving anyone aged 21 or older, WHYY reports.
Sponsored by state Rep. Ed Osienski (D), House Bill 408 would let the state’s licensed medical dispensaries acquire temporary “conversion licenses” to sell to both medical and adult-use customers while the state’s adult-use market comes online. The conversion license fee would cost $100,000, with proceeds allocated to the state’s social equity fund.
Osienski emphasized the benefits for consumers, explaining that the proposal would expedite market access. “Part of the real issue is brand new cultivation takes a lot of time,” he said, noting that a full crop can take up to 18 months. “This utilizes the existing growth facilities,” he added.
However, some cannabis advocates are concerned that the proposal could give certain businesses an unfair advantage during the critical industry rollout phase. “This bill will allow six businesses to basically skip the line and get guaranteed licenses when everyone else will likely be subjected to the lottery process where they may not get a license at all, and they certainly won’t get their application fees back if they’re not selected,” said Zoë Patchell, executive director and co-founder of Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network, via WHYY.
While cannabis is currently legal to possess in Delaware, the state has yet to begin the licensing process, leaving no legally approved sources, and home growing remains prohibited.
