Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
The Big Story: Hospital Cost Review Board Bill Could Go To Governor Today.
The bill was amended in the Senate, so it now returns to the House for final passage. It’s first on today’s House Agenda, which is the normal practice in both chambers. When a bill returns from the other chamber with amendment(s), you’ll generally see them at the top of an agenda. Look for a photo op once the Governor gets his hands on it.
A couple of good progressive bills also highlight today’s House Agenda. HB 374 (K. Johnson) ‘provid(es) the same legal protections afforded providers of contraceptive and abortion services to providers of fertility treatment. SB 20 (Townsend), which unanimously passed the Senate, ‘remove(s) the requirement that a public school district employee who donates leave to another employee must donate 2 days of leave for the other employee to receive 1 day of leave.’
Today’s Senate Agenda features three bills designed to enable defendants to get out from under the ‘nickel-and-diming’ of assessed fees making it difficult to get one’s head above water. SB’s 282, 283, and 284 are all sponsored by Sen. Darius Brown, and all deserve passage.
Just a few highlights in House Committees today:
HB 362 (Minor-Brown) ‘would require coverage (of doula services) under private health insurance plans. Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce.
HB 408 (Osienski) ‘creates a temporary conversion license for existing medical marijuana compassion centers to operate for recreational marijuana purposes.’ Same committee.
Don’t panic, kids. Lots of fascinating bills in committee tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe I should panic…
Delaware CAN has come out against HB408, and I have to agree with them.
This lets just a handful of corporations jump the line to effectively corner the market in Delaware. It’s a huge step back from what we got last year.
https://www.facebook.com/DelawareCANorg/posts/pfbid02UPvubRwZqimnaa6C4uwWu4oc3SSmgEMSyXr3ZWTn22MD9frdCzhQpDsGWJ5iyMT1l
Are the existing medical marijuana compassion centers controlled by a handful of corporations?
I don’t know the answer–just asking.
In the Delaware CAN post, they note that it’s just six companies.
It’s also worth remembering that the companies that control Delaware’s medical cannabis industry also OPPOSED the regulation bill last year — arguably because they were not carved out a sweetheart deal to jump the line and start before everyone else.
Here’s the info when they tried to block it: https://www.facebook.com/DelawareCANorg/posts/pfbid0S9kcm5CNeuf8j2UHZrAUdDfjfgXnoaXeZkY3ubwqkHSDF4gppVjSNoFBDn5KXsovl
Thanks. Here’s the post that the Cannabis Advocacy Network sent out March of 2023 as the legalization bill neared the finish line:
“Yesterday, the Medical Cannabis Cartel: First State Compassion Center, DelCann / American Hemp Fiber Co and the Farm / EasyVenture, showed up to Senate Committee hearing to publicly oppose our legalization bills.
They are demanding the General Assembly grant them special, private business privileges to be first to market in the adult-use industry and be granted automatic licenses in the new industry.
This would give them a competitive advantage over all new market participants, in addition to the one they already have simply by being in the industry, especially for as long as they have been.
They falsely claimed that HB 2 excludes them from the adult-use market – but the FACT is, they would simply have to apply and wait in line like every other business looking to get a license.
Why should their businesses be granted special protections and privileges not offered to anyone else? Why are they so worried about competition? How much influence do their money and high paid lobbyists have on our lawmakers and Governor? Will lawmakers cave to crony capitalism? Inquiring minds want to know.
Call your State Senator and the Governor and let them know you want them to pass HB 1 & HB 2 as is.”