In recent years the Massachusetts cannabis market has grown. Social equity advocates are trying to restrain state legislators who would like to issue more permits to businesses. This is done to ensure that small cannabis firms, which have not yet found their feet on the market, can maintain a share of this lucrative industry.
According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, as of March the state has 393 marijuana retail shops that are active, up from just 356 back in April 2024. Another 211 retail licenses could be in the pipeline, resulting in a total of 606. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reports that there are 144 marijuana growers, 119 producers and 291 new potential cultivators or 230 new manufacturing companies waiting to be approved for the market.
The state’s figures show that the number of active marijuana businesses in Massachusetts will more than double from March 725 to 1,842.
Eight bills will be considered by lawmakers during an hearing on marijuana policy on Wednesday.
Equitable Opportunities Now, and the Massachusetts Cannabis Equity Council, have asked supporters to sign an open letter asking lawmakers to reject these bills. The organizations claim that the bills are being pushed by “large, political-connected operators” who want to “dismantle the license cap” in Massachusetts to dominate the marijuana market.
“These profitable multistate operators are spending heavily to increase their market share – at the expense of social equity businesses,” the letter asserts.
Shanel Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Equitable Opportunities Now. She said that the MSOs who are behind the legislation will force “small business” out of Massachusetts. Consumers would then be left with “mediocre products bought from a handful of national chains.”
The groups oppose the following measures, which will be discussed on Wednesday:
- Cannabis Retail Licenses – H. 149
- Act for Cannabis Market Modernization, H. 158
- Act to Promote Equity Joint Venture Partnerships (H. 160)
- H.171, Act to Modernize the Cannabis Regulatory Environment
- H. 174: Act to Increase the Cap on Marijuana Establishments
- S. 75: Modernizing the Cannabis Regulatory Environment
- S.78, The Act Concerning Economic Opportunities for the Cannabis Industry
- S. 99 Act for Cannabis Market Modernization
According to a release, advocates said that the combined bills would “rollback license limitations” and favour big businesses, over mom-and pop operators.
The two groups, on the other hand, are supporting 11 measures that they claim will “strengthen all of the industry”, including
- H.183, Act increasing the cannabis purchase and possession limits
- H.184, Delivering a fair Share of Cannabis Revenues to Communities Hurt by the War on Drugs
- H. 145 Act Expanding Access To Legal, Regulated Cannabis Deliveries
- S. 80: Act to Improve Cannabis Employment Process
- S.83, Act Modernizing Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program
- S. 84: Act to Create Cannabis Career Pathways in Justice-Involved Persons
- S. 85 Act Enabling private Donations to Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund
- S. 86 Act Supporting Cannabis Equity Business
- S. 87: Act Providing a Fair Dividend of Cannabis Revenues to Communities Hurt by the War on Drugs
- S. 88, Protecting Cannabis Equity Business By Enforcing Ownership Restrictions
- S. 89: Act to Expand Access to Legally Regulated Cannabis Delivery