On Nov. 1, Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita introduced House Bill 4211, which Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and “Specifies requirements for consolidated transport centers, including operating documents, security plans, facility requirements, plant monitoring, prohibitions on ownership, and prohibitions on offering things of value to certain persons and licensees.”

HB4211 provides

• That cannabis business entities shall adhere to the traceability and consumer protection guidelines established by the Department of Agriculture when utilizing the cannabis plant monitoring system or cannabis transport GPS tracking system.
• That entities awarded a transporting license may defer paying the associated license fee for a period of no more than 3 years.
• That from January 1, 2024 through January 1, 2026, the Department shall not issue any transporting licenses other than those issued before the effective date of the amendatory Act.
• That all products received and shipped to and from a consolidated transport center shall be tracked within the cannabis plant monitoring system.
• That a craft grower or infuser may enter into a contract with a transporting organization to transport cannabis to a consolidated transport center or a different transporting organization at the consolidated transport center.
• That no person, cannabis business establishment, or entity other than a licensed transportation organization shall transport cannabis or cannabis-infused products on behalf of a cannabis business establishment to or from a consolidated transport center, unless otherwise authorized by rule.
• Authorizes emergency rulemaking.

According to the bill, “’Consolidated transport center’ means a facility licensed by the Department of Agriculture that is: (i) integrated with access controls, cameras, and alarms; (ii) owned and operated an independent social equity transporting organization; and (iii) used for unloading products from vehicles, sorting and securely storing products, and reloading products onto licensed and registered transport vehicles before being shipped to cannabis business establishments.”

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