Second Regular Session Seventy-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO ENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted on Second Reading in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 24-0669.01 Jery Payne x2157 SENATE BILL 24-076 Senate Committees House Committees Finance Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING MEASURES TO ADDRESS EFFICIE NCY IN THE REGULATION101 OF EXISTING MARIJUANA LICENSEES .102 Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov .) Current law allows the transfer of immature plants, seeds, and genetic material between a medical or retail cultivation facility and certain people, including people approved by rule. Sections 1, 7, and 10 of the bill allow this transfer from or to a medical or retail marijuana cultivation facility from or to a person permitted by another jurisdiction to possess or cultivate marijuana. The medical or retail cultivation facility SENATE Amended 2nd Reading April 26, 2024 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Van Winkle and Gonzales, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Lindstedt, Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. must confirm that the purchaser is 21 years of age or older. The cultivation facility may accept online payments for the transfer. The state licensing authority may promulgate rules to implement the provision, but limits are placed on the rules that the state licensing authority may adopt. Section 2 limits the frequency at which regulated marijuana and a regulated marijuana product need to be tested to no more than once for each required test and otherwise requires the elimination of redundant testing. Section 2 also exempts the fungi in the genus aspergillus from product testing. Current law requires beneficial owners and people who have access to the limited access areas of a medical marijuana business or retail marijuana business to have identification cards. Section 2 repeals the requirement that beneficial owners have identification cards, but retains the requirement that people with access to the limited access areas need to have identification cards. Section 2 also specifies that a licensee need not use radio frequency identification tags to tag or track marijuana and marijuana products. Current law requires the marijuana enforcement division in the department of revenue (division) to promulgate rules requiring testing of marijuana and marijuana products for contaminants or substances that are harmful to health. Section 2 clarifies that these tests should be made to determine whether the contaminants or substances are present in amounts that are harmful to health. Current law allows a licensee to remediate marijuana or marijuana products that have failed a test. Section 2 removes a requirement that the licensee identify on the labeling that the product has failed a test when the product subsequently passed the same test. Section 2 also authorizes retesting when the marijuana or marijuana product has failed a test. Current law authorizes the division to establish procedures to issue a conditional employee identification card, which allows an individual to work for a license holder, after the individual has submitted an initial application and the division has conducted an investigation regarding the application but before the fingerprint record check is finished. Section 2 requires the division to promulgate rules and issue the employee identification card upon initial review of the application. The division is required to adopt rules authorizing a licensee to conduct fewer tests than normal upon demonstrating that the licensee's standard operating procedures and production practices result in consistent passing test results (program). Section 2 specifically authorizes this program and sets an expiration date for reduced testing under the program at 3 years. Sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 extend the initial license and license renewal periods from one year to 2 years. Section 3 requires the division to establish a system that allows a 076 -2- medical or retail marijuana business that transports marijuana or marijuana products to use an electronic manifest system. Section 5 requires the division to retain fingerprints submitted for initial licensure for use in a criminal history record check for license renewal. Section 5 also authorizes a person who holds multiple licenses or affiliated persons who hold multiple licenses to submit a unified application for license renewal. The license holders must elect to have one or more licenses expire in less than 2 years in order to coordinate the expiration date. Section 12 requires the division to promulgate rules categorizing each violation as a safety violation or a technical violation. The division will expunge technical violations from a licensee's record on the later date of one year after the violation is reported or when the license is renewed. Section 13 reduces the amount of time for which a marijuana licensee must retain books and records that show the business's transactions from 3 years to one year. Current law requires that excise tax be levied on the first transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana. Section 14 specifies that the transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana exclusively for microbial control is not the first transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana for taxation purposes. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1 SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-103, amend2 (18); and add (16.5) as follows:3 44-10-103. Definitions - rules. As used in this article 10, unless4 the context otherwise requires:5 (16.5) (a) "G ENETIC MATERIAL" MEANS CANNABIS MATERIAL USED6 TO PROPAGATE CANNABIS PLANTS .7 (b) "G ENETIC MATERIAL" INCLUDES:8 (I) I MMATURE PLANTS CONTAINING A DELTA -9 9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CONCENTR ATION OF NO MORE THAN10 THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT ON A DRY WEIGHT BASIS ;11 (II) C ANNABIS SEEDS;12 (III) T ISSUE CULTURE; AND13 (IV) S MALL AMOUNTS OR FRAGMENTS OF THE CANNABIS PLANT14 076-3- CONTAINING A DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CONCENTRATION OF1 NO MORE THAN THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT ON A DRY-WEIGHT BASIS.2 (18) "Immature plant" means a nonflowering marijuana plant that3 is no taller than eight FIFTEEN inches and no wider than eight FIFTEEN4 inches AND is produced from a cutting, clipping, or seedling. and is in a 5 cultivating container.6 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-203, amend7 (2) introductory portion, (2)(d)(III)(A), (2)(d)(III)(B), (2)(e), (2)(t),8 (2)(dd)(XIV), and (3)(h) as follows:9 44-10-203. State licensing authority - rules. (2) Mandatory10 rule-making. Rules promulgated pursuant to section 44-10-202 (1)(c)11 must include but need not be limited to the following subjects:12 13 (d) (III) (A) If test results indicate the presence of quantities of14 any A substance determined to be injurious to health, the medical15 marijuana or retail marijuana licensee shall immediately quarantine the16 products and notify the state licensing authority. The state licensing17 authority shall give the licensee an opportunity to remediate, INCLUDING18 RETESTING TO DEMONSTRATE THE REMEDIATION OF , the product if the test19 indicated the presence of a microbial. If the licensee is unable to20 remediate the product, the licensee shall document and properly destroy21 the adulterated product. I F THE LICENSEE IS ABLE TO REMEDIATE THE22 PRODUCT AND THE REMEDIATED PRODUCT PASSES THE RETESTING , THE23 LICENSEE NEED NOT INDICATE ON THE LABEL THAT THE PRODUCT FAILED24 THE TEST BEFORE THE PRODUCT WAS REMEDIATED .25 (B) If retail marijuana or retail marijuana product test results26 indicate the presence of quantities of any A substance determined to be27 076 -4- injurious to health, INCLUDING PESTICIDES, the state licensing authority1 shall give the licensee an opportunity to retest the retail marijuana or2 retail marijuana product.3 4 (e) Security requirements for any premises licensed pursuant to5 this article 10, including, at a minimum, lighting, physical security, video,6 and alarm requirements, and other minimum procedures for internal7 control as deemed necessary by the state licensing authority to properly8 administer and enforce the provisions of this article 10, including9 BIENNIAL reporting requirements for changes, alterations, or10 modifications to the premises;11 (t) Development of individual identification cards for natural12 persons who are controlling beneficial owners, and any person operating,13 INDIVIDUALS working in or having unescorted access to the limited access14 areas of the licensed premises of a medical marijuana business or retail15 marijuana business, including a fingerprint-based criminal history record16 check as may be required by the state licensing authority prior to issuing17 a card;18 19 (dd) Requirements for medical marijuana and medical marijuana20 products delivery as described in section 44-10-501 (11) and section21 44-10-505 (5) and retail marijuana and retail marijuana products delivery22 as described in section 44-10-601 (13) and section 44-10-605 (5),23 including:24 (XIV) (A) Requirements for areas where medical marijuana and25 medical marijuana products or retail marijuana and retail marijuana26 products orders are stored, weighed, packaged, prepared, and tagged,27 076 -5- including requirements that medical marijuana and medical marijuana1 products or retail marijuana and retail marijuana products cannot be2 placed into a delivery vehicle until after an order has been placed and that3 all delivery orders must be packaged on the licensed premises of a4 medical marijuana store or retail marijuana store or its associated state5 licensing authority-authorized storage facility as defined by rule after an6 order has been received. and7 (B) B Y JANUARY 1, 2027, THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY SHALL 8 PROMULGATE RULES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE LICENSEES TO USE RADIO9 FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK REGULATED10 MARIJUANA IN SEED -TO-SALE TRACKING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS11 ESTABLISHED BY RULE.12 (3) In promulgating rules pursuant to this section, the state13 licensing authority may seek the assistance of the department of public14 health and environment when necessary before promulgating rules on the15 following subjects:16 (h) A requirement that every medical marijuana store and retail17 marijuana store post, at all times and in a prominent place AT EVERY 18 POINT OF SALE, a warning that has a minimum height of three inches and19 a width of six inches and that reads:20 Warning: Using marijuana, in any form, while you are21 pregnant or breastfeeding passes THC to your baby and22 may be harmful to your baby. There is no known safe23 amount of marijuana use during pregnancy or24 breastfeeding.25 26 SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-313, amend27 076 -6- (6)(b) as follows:1 44-10-313. Licensing in general - rules - repeal. (6) (b) (I) All2 I F ISSUED BY THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY , regulated marijuana3 business licenses and licenses granted to a controlling beneficial owner4 pursuant to this article 10 are valid for a period of one year TWO YEARS5 after the date of issuance unless revoked or suspended pursuant to this6 article 10 or the rules promulgated pursuant to this article 10 OR UNLESS7 THE LICENSEE ELECTS FOR THE LICENSE TO EXPIRE SOONER THAN TWO8 YEARS UNDER SECTION 44-10-314 (3). A LOCAL LICENSING AUTHORITY 9 MAY DETERMINE WHETHER EACH TYPE OF LICENSE , INCLUDING AN10 ASSOCIATED MARIJUANA DELIVERY PERMIT , ISSUED BY THE LOCAL11 LICENSING AUTHORITY IS VALID FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS .12 (II) (A) T HIS SUBSECTION (6)(b) APPLIES TO LICENSES ISSUED 13 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, AS AMENDED.14 (B) T HIS SUBSECTION (6)(b)(II) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 15 2026.16 SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-314, add (4)17 as follows:18 44-10-314. License renewal - unified renewal applications -19 rules. (4) O N OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2026, THE STATE LICENSING 20 AUTHORITY SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AUTHORIZING MULTIPLE21 REGULATED MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSEES WITH IDENTICAL22 CONTROLLING BENEFICIAL OWNERS TO SUBMIT A SINGLE INITIAL23 APPLICATION OR A SINGLE RENEWAL APPLICATION THROUGH A UNIFIED24 APPLICATION PROCESS. A UNIFIED APPLICATION IS SUBJECT TO A LOWER25 FEE FOR EACH APPLICATION THAN FOR APPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL26 LICENSES.27 076 -7- SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-501, amend1 (3)(g) and (11)(a)(II) as follows:2 44-10-501. Medical marijuana store license. (3) (g) When3 completing a sale of medical marijuana concentrate, the medical4 marijuana store shall provide the patient with PHYSICALLY ATTACH TO5 THE PATIENT'S RECEIPT OF SALE, PRODUCT CONTAINER , OR EXIT6 PACKAGING the tangible educational resource created by the state7 licensing authority pursuant to section 44-10-202 (8) regarding the use of8 medical marijuana concentrate.9 (11) (a) (II) A medical marijuana delivery permit is valid for one10 year TWO YEARS and may be renewed annually upon renewal of the11 medical marijuana store license.12 SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-502, amend13 (7)(a) introductory portion, (7)(a)(II), (7)(a)(III), (7)(b)(I) introductory14 portion, (7)(b)(I)(B), (7)(b)(I)(C), and (7)(b)(I)(D); repeal (7)(b)(II); and15 add (7)(b)(III), (7)(b)(IV), (7)(b)(V), (7)(c), and (7)(d) as follows:16 44-10-502. Medical marijuana cultivation facility license -17 rules - definitions. (7) (a) In accordance with the rules promulgated by18 the state licensing authority, a medical marijuana cultivation facility may19 obtain immature plants, marijuana seeds, and marijuana genetic material20 as genetic material is defined in rule of the state licensing authority, from:21 (II) A MEDICAL OR retail marijuana testing facility;22 (III) An entity licensed or otherwise approved to operate in 23 another jurisdiction A PERSON LICENSED BY, APPROVED BY, OR PERMITTED24 BY ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO POSSESS OR CULTIVATE PLANTS OF THE25 GENUS CANNABIS; or26 (b) (I) The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules27 076 -8- allowing a regulated marijuana cultivation facility to transfer immature1 plants, marijuana seeds, and marijuana genetic material, as genetic2 material is defined in rule of the state licensing authority, from A3 MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY MAY SELL , TRANSFER, OR4 SHIP GENETIC MATERIAL TO:5 (B) A MEDICAL OR retail marijuana testing facility;6 (C) An entity licensed or otherwise approved to operate in another 7 jurisdiction A PERSON LICENSED BY, APPROVED BY, OR PERMITTED BY8 ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO POSSESS OR CULTIVATE PLANTS OF THE GENUS9 CANNABIS; or10 (D) Any other source PERSON permitted by rule of the state11 licensing authority.12 (II) The rules promulgated under this subsection (7)(b) must13 include inventory tracking, reporting, and record-keeping, requirements.14 (III) F OR SALES, TRANSFERS, OR SHIPMENTS TO AN INDIVIDUAL, A 15 MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY SHALL ESTABLISH PROCESSES16 AND PROCEDURES TO CONFIRM THAT THE PURCHASING OR RECEIVING17 INDIVIDUAL IS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER USING AN AGE18 VERIFICATION PROCESS, SUCH AS AUTHENTICATION VERIFICATION ,19 BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION, OR DOCUMENT VERIFICATION.20 (IV) A LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY21 MAY ACCEPT PAYMENT ONLINE FOR THE SALE , TRANSFER, OR SHIPMENT OF22 GENETIC MATERIAL.23 (V) A LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY 24 SHALL NOT TRANSFER GENETIC MATERIAL DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS WHO25 ARE PRESENT ON THE LICENSED PREMISES .26 (c) T HE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO27 076 -9- IMPLEMENT THIS SUBSECTION (7) TO SET REQUIREMENTS FOR INVENTORY1 TRACKING, REPORTING, AND RECORD KEEPING. IN PROMULGATING THE2 RULES AND CONDUCTING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION3 (7), THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY MAY : 4 (I) R EQUIRE INVENTORY TRACKING OF GENETIC MATERIAL ONLY 5 WHEN THE GENETIC MATERIAL IS:6 (A) O N THE LICENSED PREMISES OF A MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR7 RETAIL MARIJUANA BUSINESS; OR8 (B) B EING TRANSFERRED BETWEEN REGULATED MARIJUANA 9 BUSINESSES LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 10;10 (II) O NLY CONFIRM THE LICENSEE HAS ESTABLISHED PROCESSES 11 AND PROCEDURES TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTION (7)(b)(III)12 OF THIS SECTION; OR13 (III) M ONITOR OR TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH 14 A LICENSEE'S GENETIC MATERIAL ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR ONLY ON THE15 LICENSED PREMISES.16 (d) T HIS SUBSECTION (7) DOES NOT LIMIT THE APPLICABILITY OF 17 ANOTHER STATE'S LAW, THE APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW , OR18 ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL AGENCIES .19 SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-505, amend20 (5)(a)(II) as follows:21 44-10-505. Medical marijuana transporter license - definition.22 (5) (a) (II) A medical marijuana delivery permit is valid for one year TWO23 YEARS and may be renewed annually upon renewal of the medical24 marijuana transporter license.25 SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-601, amend26 (3)(d) and (13)(a)(II) as follows:27 076 -10- 44-10-601. Retail marijuana store license - rules - definitions.1 (3) (d) When completing a sale of retail marijuana concentrate, the retail2 marijuana store shall provide the customer with PHYSICALLY ATTACH TO3 THE CUSTOMER'S RECEIPT OF SALE, PRODUCT CONTAINER , OR EXIT4 PACKAGING the tangible educational resource created by the state5 licensing authority through rule-making pursuant to section 44-10-202 (8)6 regarding the use of medical marijuana concentrate.7 (13) (a) (II) A retail marijuana delivery permit is valid for one8 year TWO YEARS and may be renewed annually upon renewal of the retail9 marijuana store license or retail marijuana transporter license.10 SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-602, amend11 (12)(a) introductory portion, (12)(a)(II), (12)(a)(III), (12)(b)(I)12 introductory portion, (12)(b)(I)(B), (12)(b)(I)(C), and (12)(b)(I)(D);13 repeal (12)(b)(II); and add (12)(b)(III), (12)(b)(IV), (12)(b)(V), (12)(c),14 and (12)(d) as follows:15 44-10-602. Retail marijuana cultivation facility license - rules16 - definitions. (12) (a) In accordance with the rules promulgated by the17 state licensing authority, a retail marijuana cultivation facility may obtain18 immature plants, marijuana seeds, and marijuana genetic material as19 genetic material is defined in rule of the state licensing authority, from:20 (II) A MEDICAL OR retail marijuana testing facility;21 (III) An entity licensed or otherwise approved to operate in 22 another jurisdiction A PERSON LICENSED BY, APPROVED BY, OR PERMITTED23 BY ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO POSSESS OR CULTIVATE PLANTS OF THE24 GENUS CANNABIS; or25 (b) (I) The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules26 allowing a regulated marijuana cultivation facility to transfer immature27 076 -11- plants, marijuana seeds, and marijuana genetic material, as genetic1 material is defined in rule of the state licensing authority, from A RETAIL2 MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY MAY SELL , TRANSFER, OR SHIP3 GENETIC MATERIAL TO:4 (B) A MEDICAL OR retail marijuana testing facility;5 (C) An entity licensed or otherwise approved to operate in another 6 jurisdiction A PERSON LICENSED BY, APPROVED BY, OR PERMITTED BY7 ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO POSSESS OR CULTIVATE PLANTS OF THE GENUS8 CANNABIS; or9 (D) Any other source PERSON permitted by rule of the state10 licensing authority.11 (II) The rules promulgated under this subsection (12)(b) must12 include inventory tracking, reporting, and record-keeping requirements.13 (III) F OR SALES, TRANSFERS, OR SHIPMENTS TO AN INDIVIDUAL, A 14 RETAIL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY SHALL ESTABLISH PROCESSES15 AND PROCEDURES TO CONFIRM THAT THE PURCHASING OR RECEIVING16 INDIVIDUAL IS TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER USING AN AGE17 VERIFICATION PROCESS, SUCH AS AUTHENTICATION VERIFICATION ,18 BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION, OR DOCUMENT VERIFICATION.19 (IV) A LICENSED RETAIL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY MAY20 ACCEPT PAYMENT ONLINE FOR THE SALE , TRANSFER, OR SHIPMENT OF21 GENETIC MATERIAL.22 (V) A LICENSED RETAIL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY SHALL 23 NOT TRANSFER GENETIC MATERIAL DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS WHO ARE24 PRESENT ON THE LICENSED PREMISES.25 (c) T HE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO26 IMPLEMENT THIS SUBSECTION (12) TO SET REQUIREMENTS FOR INVENTORY27 076 -12- TRACKING, REPORTING, AND RECORD KEEPING. IN PROMULGATING THE1 RULES AND CONDUCTING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION2 (12), THE STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY MAY : 3 (I) R EQUIRE INVENTORY TRACKING OF GENETIC MATERIAL ONLY 4 WHEN THE GENETIC MATERIAL IS:5 (A) O N THE LICENSED PREMISES OF A MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR6 RETAIL MARIJUANA BUSINESS; OR7 (B) B EING TRANSFERRED BETWEEN REGULATED MARIJUANA 8 BUSINESSES LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE 10;9 (II) O NLY CONFIRM THE LICENSEE HAS ESTABLISHED PROCESSES 10 AND PROCEDURES TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTION (12)(b)(III)11 OF THIS SECTION; OR 12 (III) M ONITOR OR TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH 13 A LICENSEE'S GENETIC MATERIAL ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR ONLY ON THE14 LICENSED PREMISES.15 (d) T HIS SUBSECTION (12) DOES NOT LIMIT THE APPLICABILITY OF 16 ANOTHER STATE'S LAW, THE APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW , OR17 ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL AGENCIES .18 SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-10-605, amend19 (5)(a)(II) as follows:20 44-10-605. Retail marijuana transporter license - definition.21 (5) (a) (II) A retail marijuana delivery permit is valid for one year TWO22 YEARS and may be renewed annually upon renewal of the retail marijuana23 transporter license.24 25 SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-28.8-302,26 amend (1)(a)(I); and add (1)(c) as follows:27 076 -13- 39-28.8-302. Retail marijuana - excise tax levied at first1 transfer from retail marijuana cultivation facility - tax rate.2 (1) (a) (I) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b) SUBSECTION3 (1)(b) OR (1)(c) of this section, there is levied and shall be collected, in4 addition to the sales tax imposed pursuant to part 1 of article 26 of this5 title 39 and part 2 of this article 28.8, a tax on the first sale or transfer of6 unprocessed retail marijuana by a retail marijuana cultivation facility, at7 a rate of fifteen percent of the average market rate of the unprocessed8 retail marijuana if the transaction is between affiliated retail marijuana9 business licensees. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b) 10 SUBSECTION (1)(b) OR (1)(c) of this section, there is levied and shall be11 collected, in addition to the sales tax imposed pursuant to part 1 of article12 26 of this title 39 and part 2 of this article 28.8, a tax on the first sale or13 transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana by a retail marijuana cultivation14 facility, at a rate of fifteen percent of the contract price for unprocessed15 retail marijuana if the transaction is between unaffiliated retail marijuana16 business licensees. Retail marijuana excise tax shall also be calculated as17 fifteen percent of the contract price when the first transfer of retail18 marijuana that has been harvested for sale at a retail marijuana store or19 extraction by a retail marijuana product manufacturing facility is between20 unaffiliated retail marijuana cultivation facilities. The tax shall be21 imposed at the time when the retail marijuana cultivation facility first22 sells or transfers unprocessed retail marijuana from the retail marijuana23 cultivation facility to a retail marijuana product manufacturing facility or24 a retail marijuana store.25 (c) T HE TRANSFER OF UNPROCESSED RETAIL MARIJUANA26 EXCLUSIVELY FOR MICROBIAL CONTROL IS DEEMED TO NOT BE THE FIRST27 076 -14- TRANSFER OF UNPROCESSED RETAIL MARIJUANA FOR THE PURPOSES OF1 THIS SECTION.2 SECTION 12. Act subject to petition - effective date -3 applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following4 the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the5 general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant6 to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an7 item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,8 section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the9 general election to be held in November 2024 and, in such case, will take10 effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the11 governor.12 (2) This act applies to acts committed on or after the applicable13 effective date of this act.14 076 -15-