LENAWEE CO. — The Republican Cannabis Caucus of Michigan says a new set of bills in Lansing would hurt the legal cannabis industry and bring back criminal penalties.

The group points to House Bills 5104, 5105, 5106, and 5107, along with Senate Bill 597. The bills would reaffirm cannabis as an illicit drug in state law, add new criminal penalties, expand enforcement powers for the Cannabis Regulatory Agency, and cap the number of licenses allowed in Michigan.

RCC-MI Chair George Brikho said in a press release that lawmakers already taxed the industry at 24% and are now trying to, “re-implement prohibition” and block small businesses out of the market. He also said the bills would allow large, out-of-state companies to dominate the industry.

Brikho said the group plans to educate the public and organize opposition. The bills would need a supermajority vote in both chambers to pass.