LANSING — The Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs released the application last week for prospective licensees to apply for a medical marihuana facility license with the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, beginning this week.

On Dec. 15, 2017, LARA will begin accepting online or paper form applications, utilizing a two-step application process for medical marihuana facility licensing:

• Pre-qualification

• License qualification

This two-step process will allow applicants to begin the application process by completing step one before a location for the medical marihuana facility is established. If applicants have a location secured, they will have the option of submitting step one and step two materials at the same time.

Step One:

Pre-qualification

Pre-qualification will include a full background check of the applicant and all supplemental applicants. This includes but is not limited to, individuals or businesses with an ownership interest (direct or indirect) in the applicant.

As part of the pre-qualification, applicants must disclose those individuals and businesses with an indirect or direct ownership interest. Applicants should refer to Sections 401 and 404 of the MMFLA to determine which individuals or businesses must be included in the disclosure.

Before an applicant’s pre-qualification materials can be reviewed and processed by BMMR, the $6,000 application fee must be paid, either in-person or online. Pre-qualification may be completed before an applicant has a physical location for its business.

Step Two:

License qualification

License qualification requires information specific to the physical location of the applicant’s business as well as to which type of facility license the potential licensee is applying.

If applicants have a location secured, they will have the option of submitting pre-qualification and license qualification materials at the same time.

Under Section 205 of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, the department cannot issue a license to a facility unless the municipality in which the licensee is intending to operate has enacted an ordinance authorizing marihuana facilities and compliant with Section 205 requirements.

While an application is being processed, a BMMR representative will be assigned to each applicant and will stay in communication throughout the process.

Final approval

An applicant cannot be issued a license until all requirements in the MMFLA and administrative rules are met. After license qualification is completed, BMMR will present the completed application to the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board. Upon approval from the MMLB, an applicant will be required to pay a regulatory assessment for each license.

Once the regulatory assessment is received, the license(s) will be issued.