Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is getting closer to opening social consumption lounges. Commissioners met to discuss key issues, from the business relationship to safety concerns and law enforcement.
This coming Monday, the commission will resume its work. The commission will continue its work on the regulations this coming Monday. The Board hopes to complete the framework by mid-2025.
The commissioners did stress that despite the finalization of regulations, there will be a significant implementation phase.
Massachusetts is ready for its social consumption. Nurys Camargo, the commissioner at that meeting said: “We have to get this right.” It’s going to take some time. The fact that we’re all here doesn’t guarantee social consumption tomorrow.
CCC develops regulations for three social consumption licences. These are supplemental licenses to existing cannabis businesses; hospitality licenses to new establishments, and event organizers licenses that cover temporary consumption events.
Seeking clarity
The three commissioners present – Camargo, Kimberly Roy and Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins – spent much of the session debating definitional language, lobbing questions and consulting with the commission’s legal and enforcement teams to ensure regulations would be both practical and enforceable.
The relationship between the cannabis licensees, and non-cannabis companies that may host them was a key issue. Roy expressed concerns, in particular, about the definition proposed for “close associate.”
I think that we are a bit boxing ourselves. I hear about things anecdotally – folks getting creative with ownership and control,” she said.
Stebbins elaborated on concerns of the Commission about these relationships in a press conference held after the meeting.
He said: “We want to be sure there is no control interest from the non-cannabis industry.” Green Market Report This is merely a potential relationship for renting out space. Anything beyond this could lead to some of our regulations on ownership and control.
Stebbins emphasized that while hospitality licenses – such as yoga studios or entertainment venues offering cannabis – present exciting opportunities for innovation, the commission wants to prevent “any type of predatory or ownership relationship” between licensees and non-cannabis businesses.
Commission members expressed concerns that a higher annual fee would discourage partnership with smaller businesses run by individuals from underprivileged backgrounds.
Roy said, “We hope that Black and Brown-owned Yoga studios, lounges or cafés will participate. But we are going to discourage this by making the price double.”
Public Safety
The Commission is also incorporating multiple safety measures in the rules. The commission is also incorporating multiple public safety measures into the regulations.
Social consumption establishments are required to provide staff with four hours of training in recognizing impairment, dealing with medical emergencies and valid ID verification. It is developing guidelines for safely repackaging unfinished products, so that consumers are not pressured into finishing everything.
Stebbins highlighted the Commission’s outreach efforts to all public safety stakeholder groups, which included meetings with public safety secretary, Massachusetts Major Chiefs of Police Association (MMCPA) and Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee.
To enforce its regulations, the Commission plans to use all existing legal tools including license suspensions and fines. The commission will require that many safety features be included in applications. This means establishments cannot open without the proper safety measures.
Stebbins said that the state legislature had removed barriers for local adoptions of social consumption, allowing them to do so through an ordinance change rather than by referendum.
The vote was not just a community-wide one. The governing body may decide to adopt social consumption through a simple change in their bylaws or ordinances. This is still likely to be a major local government undertaking, but not one that requires a vote. GMR.
The commissioners did warn that there will be a need for guidance from the community on how to opt in. Also, they said, licensing systems will have to be updated to accommodate new license types, and vendor-training programs must also take into account responsible behavior.
The cities and towns must opt-in. The process must be figured out. Camargo stated that “we have to determine our process”. He warned, however, that establishments offering social consumption won’t be open right away after the regulations are approved.