After criticism that they were moving to regulate too much of the new legal marijuana trade too soon, the state's Cannabis Control Commission has agreed to delay awarding licenses for home delivery and cafe consumption of pot.
The Cannabis Control Commission agreed Monday to put more time into researching public consumption services and home delivery and to decide on the issue in October.
Commissioner Shaleen Title wouldn't vote for a delay unless the Commission agreed to find a way that when those licences become available, minority operated "equity applicants," and very small operations would be allowed exclusive access to the market.
"For that period, we would control the market opportunity so that again, those are the only recipients to be able to deliver: equity applicants, micro-businesses and co-ops," Title said.
After a fractious debate on how to move forward, Commissioners questioned Title and drafted measures on the fly.
"This is a package deal. I support the delay if we are very clear about this other action that we are taking," Title said when she introduced the compromise offer.
Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan voted for the measure after being assured there would be no legal requirement to offer exclusivity to minority applicants.
"It's part of the process. It's the deliberations. It's the open and transparent process that we have. And listening to the feedback that we've gotten from the public and from the agencies. And so, in order to do this right, we should take a hard look at everything and that's what we're doing," Flanagan said.
The regulators gave themselves a new deadline of October to come up with the delivery and cafes service rules. Regulations for retail stores are expected next month.
