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2020 SESSION

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SB 976 Pharmaceutical processors; operation of cannabis dispensing facilities.

Introduced by: David W. Marsden | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

Board of Pharmacy; pharmaceutical processors; cannabis dispensing facilities. Defines "cannabis dispensing facilities" and allows the Board of Pharmacy to issue up to five permits for cannabis dispensing facilities per health service area. The bill requires the Board to establish a ratio of one pharmacist for every six pharmacy interns, technicians, and technician trainees for pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities. The bill directs the Board of Pharmacy to require that, after processing and before dispensing cannabis oil, a pharmaceutical processor make a sample available from each homogenized batch of product for testing at an independent laboratory located in Virginia that meets Board requirements. The bill requires that the Board promulgate regulations that include an allowance for the sale of devices for administration of dispensed products and an allowance for the use and distribution of inert product samples containing no cannabinoids for patient demonstration exclusively at the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility, and not for further distribution or sale, without the need for a written certification. The bill also requires the Board to adopt regulations for pharmaceutical processors that include requirements for (i) processes for safely and securely cultivating cannabis plants intended for producing cannabis oil; (ii) a maximum number of marijuana plants a pharmaceutical processor may possess at any one time; (iii) the secure disposal of plant remains; (iv) dosage limitations, which shall provide that each dispensed dose of cannabis oil not exceed 10 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol; and (v) a process for registering cannabis oil products. The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate required regulations within 280 days of the bill's enactment.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Board of Pharmacy; pharmaceutical processors; cannabis dispensing facilities. Defines "cannabis dispensing facilities" and allows the Board of Pharmacy to issue up to five permits for cannabis dispensing facilities per health service area. The bill requires the Board to establish a ratio of one pharmacist for every six pharmacy interns, technicians, and technician trainees for pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities. The bill directs the Board of Pharmacy to require that, after processing and before dispensing cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil, a pharmaceutical processor make a sample available from each homogenized batch of product for testing at an independent laboratory located in Virginia that meets Board requirements. The bill requires that the Board promulgate regulations that include an allowance for the sale of devices for administration of dispensed products and an allowance for the use and distribution of inert product samples containing no cannabinoids for patient demonstration exclusively at the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility, and not for further distribution or sale, without the need for a written certification. The bill also requires the Board to adopt regulations for pharmaceutical processors that include requirements for (i) processes for safely and securely cultivating cannabis plants intended for producing cannabidiol oil or THC-A oil; (ii) a maximum number of marijuana plants a pharmaceutical processor may possess at any one time; (iii) the secure disposal of plant remains; (iv) dosage limitations, which shall provide that each dispensed dose of cannabidiol oil or THC-A not exceed 10 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol; and (v) a process for registering cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil products. The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate required regulations within 280 days of the bill's enactment.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Board of Pharmacy; pharmaceutical processors; processing and dispensing cannabis oil. Replaces the definitions of cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil with a definition for cannabis oil. The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to establish a pharmacist-to-pharmacist-technician supervision ratio of one to eight for pharmaceutical processors. The bill allows practitioners to utilize telemedicine in evaluating and treating patients related to the issuance of written certifications for the use of cannabis oil. The bill permits pharmaceutical processors to establish up to five off-site dispensing locations within the health service area of the pharmaceutical processor. The bill directs the Board of Pharmacy to require that, after processing and before dispensing cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil, a pharmaceutical processor make a homogenized sample available from each batch of product for testing at an independent laboratory meeting board requirements. The bill directs the Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations for the dispensing of unprocessed cannabis flower in the same manner as cannabis oil. The bill specifies that a licensed pharmacist shall only be required on the premises of the pharmaceutical processor during dispensing hours and during the production of cannabis oil and may authorize certain employee access to secured areas designated for cultivation and extraction and other areas approved by the Board.