Michigan Senate Committee Approves Bill Allowing 19- and 20-Year-Olds to Work in Marijuana Businesses

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A Michigan Senate committee has given approval to legislation allowing 19- and 20-year-olds to work or volunteer at state-licensed or tribal marijuana retail outlets.

Senator Sean McCann filed Senate Bill 807 in April, with it quickly assigned to the Committee On Regulatory Affairs. Today, the committee gave approval to the measure, sending it to the Committee Of The Whole . Approval through that committee will allow a vote by the full Senate.

The bill “would amend the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act to allow an individual who was 19 years old or older to work or volunteer for a marihuana establishment or tribal marihuana business if the individual were supervised by an agent of the establishment or business who was 21 years old or older.”

Currently, state law “prohibits a marihuana establishment, including a marihuana grower, processor, secure transporter, safety compliance facility, retailer, microbusiness, or tribal marihuana business, from allowing an individual under the age of 21 to volunteer or work for the establishment.”

The bill would “lower the minimum age to work or volunteer for a marihuana establishment from 21 to 19 years of age. It also would allow a person who was 19 years of age or older to manufacture, purchase, distribute, and sell marihuana accessories in the individual’s capacity as an employee or volunteer.”

A similar measure, House Bill 4322 , was passed by the full House of Representatives last year.

“A person who is 19 years of age or older may manufacture, purchase, distribute, and sell marihuana accessories if the person is an agent acting on behalf of a marihuana establishment”, states House Bill 4322 .

The measure was filed by State Representative Kevin Coleman along with cosponsors Representatives Jimmie Wilson, Emily Dievendorf, Dylan Wegela, Mike McFall, Graham Filler, Tullio Liberati and James DeSana.

Although both measures allowsthose who are 19 and 20 to work at marijuana stores, they do not allow them to consume marijuana.

Michigan legalized marijuana in 2018 via the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. The law allows those 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants for personal use. The act also established a licensed and regulated system of marijuana retail outlets, which currently employ thousands of people throughout the state.

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