Gov. Maura Healey on Sunday signed a law reforming the state’s cannabis regulations and rebooting the Cannabis Control Commission.
Under the legislation (H 5350), the current CCC is immediately dissolved and downsized from five members to three, all to be appointed by the governor. Healey now has 30 days to reappoint a new CCC, which has been riddled with internal conflict for years. Sunday was the deadline for Healey to sign the bill, which lawmakers sent to her desk April 9. Healey’s office said it has “already begun the process of identifying commissioners.”
“The cannabis industry is an important part of Massachusetts economy – supporting jobs and local businesses and generating revenue for cities and towns,” Healey said in a press release Sunday. “It’s important that we are doing everything we can to make sure this industry is set up for success and that we remain competitive in this fast-growing market.”
While the CCC is under transformation, regulators say they will continue to work on several ongoing projects including rolling out regulations governing sites where people can consume marijuana in social settings and assessing market conditions as part of a temporary cultivation license freeze, which the CCC approved at its last meeting. Regulators say they will also continue daily oversight of the industry including accepting license applications and conducting inspections.
“During this transition, the organization will remain focused on its primary mission of regulating a safe, equitable cannabis industry for consumers, patients, business leaders, and taxpayers in Massachusetts,” CCC Executive Director Travis Ahern said in the press release. “The Commission has capably integrated legislative changes before, such as with the extensive Chapter 180 reforms, and we will do the same now as we enter a new era as an agency while working with the Governor to implement the legislative intent of this bill.”
The new law clarifies responsibilities for the CCC chair and executive director, which has been a point of contention for commissioners. It states the chairperson is responsible for personnel and administrative matters and the executive director reports directly to the chair.
Under the law, the CCC must create an online, anonymous portal to accept reports of illegal conduct. It also directs the CCC to make recommendations surrounding intoxicating hemp-based products that have fallen into a gray area of the law and regulations. The legislation allows cannabis retailers to hold up to six store licenses, double the current cap. It also raises the amount of marijuana a person can legally possess from one ounce to two and eliminates requirements for medical marijuana businesses to grow and process all of the marijuana they sell.
Healey now has until May 19 to appoint the new three-person CCC. Under the new law, the CCC said, one member must have expertise in social justice, while the two other members must have expertise in social justice, public health, public safety, regulation of business, consumer commodities, and/or the production and distribution of marijuana.
[Ella Adams contributed to this report.]
