Marijuana regulations approved by CCC viewed as problematic

On Sept. 22, the Cannabis Control Commission voted, 3-1, to approve extensive revisions to state regulations governing adult and medical use of marijuana, despite concerns raised by municipal officials.

The CCC must now file the final language with the secretary of state’s office. Final rules must be promulgated by Nov. 9 pursuant to a comprehensive cannabis law enacted last August, Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022.

The new regulations broaden the CCC’s authority over host community agreements and apply retroactively to existing host community agreements. The regulations will allow the CCC to review new and existing host community agreements for compliance.

The new regulations also create significant new requirements for municipalities to address equity in the industry, through a number of provisions aimed at attracting and aiding social equity businesses. There are also new requirements around community impact fees, including stringent reporting and narrower correlation requirements.

The CCC discussed its intent for the regulations to take effect next March.

The CCC held a hybrid public hearing on Sept. 8, when stakeholders were able to comment. Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski and Rockland Town Administrator Douglas Lapp testified at the hearing, while more than 40 municipalities submitted comments on the draft regulations.

The MMA advocated strongly for the final regulations to take a two-tiered approach: allowing existing host community agreements to continue until their expiration, while applying any new regulations to agreements executed after the final regulations are in place.

More than 1,000 host community agreements are currently in effect.

The final language of the new regulations is not yet available.

• View the CCC press release for additional details