SB 56 - This act allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to grant licenses for the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of marijuana for medical use. This act defines the responsibilities of the department in licensing businesses and facilities and certifying patients and allows the department to charge fees, limit the number of licenses issued, and the quantities of marijuana that may be possessed. The retail sale of medical marijuana would be subject to a four percent tax. The proceeds of the tax and fees collected under the marijuana program would be deposited in the Missouri Veterans' Health and Care Fund, which is created by this act. The fund is to be used to pay the expenses of the department in administering the marijuana program. Any excess proceeds are to be transferred to the Missouri Veterans Commission for health and care services for military veterans. This act prohibits the imposition of certain penalties against patients, laboratories, caregivers, attorneys, health care providers, including physicians, and other entities for participating in the medical marijuana program. This act specifies that criminal and civil penalties regarding certain unauthorized uses of marijuana would continue to apply even if the act was enacted. SARAH HASKINS