CCC working groups seek comment on regulatory areas under review

Three working groups set up by the Cannabis Control Commission are seeking public comment through April 28 on areas where the CCC is reviewing its regulations and considering policy changes that respond to a comprehensive cannabis law enacted in August 2022.

Three working groups composed of commissioners and staff have been discussing policies to implement reforms based on specific subject areas.

• The Host Community Agreements Working Group is tasked with developing policy recommendations relative to the new statutory requirement that the CCC reviews HCAs, establishes a written waiver process, and develops a model HCA.

• The Municipal Equity Working Group is tasked with developing policy recommendations relative to the new statutory mandates to promote social equity at the municipal level. The CCC is required to establish procedures and policies for municipalities to promote Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants and Social Equity Program Participant businesses, including new standards for prioritizing applicants, minimum acceptable standards, and best practices for municipalities negotiating HCAs.

• The Social Consumption Working Group is tasked with reviewing the CCC’s existing social consumption regulations to consider whether any new regulations or amendments are needed to move the Social Consumption Marijuana Establishment license forward in Massachusetts.

Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 calls for the Cannabis Control Commission to create additional regulations related to host community agreements, including community impact fees at license application and renewal. It also calls for the CCC to create new regulations to establish minimum standards for host communities to promote and encourage full participation in the cannabis industry by those who have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs. Finally, the law created a mechanism for municipalities to allow for on-site consumption of cannabis products, and requires the CCC to promulgate new regulations and guidance around social consumption establishments.

Interested citizens and stakeholders are invited to share their ideas and concerns on these topics with the appropriate working group. Written comments should be submitted to Investigations and Enforcement Project Manager Mercedes Erickson at Mercedes.Erickson@CCCMass.com. Comments can be submitted as an attached Word document or as text within the body of an email. Constituents should note “Regulatory Review” in the subject line and identify one of the three Working Groups that should review the comments. All submissions should include the commenter’s full name, city/town and state, and, if available, email address and phone number.

All public comments should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than April 28.

In the interest of transparency, the CCC may publish the submissions it receives or produce them in response to a request made under the Massachusetts public records law or other compulsory legal process.

The CCC notes that its 2023 regulatory revision process is still in its early stages, and the consideration of policy changes by the working groups is just the first phase of several opportunities for the public to review and provide feedback. Once the CCC drafts updates to the regulations, they will be published, discussed at a CCC public meeting, and open for additional comment before they are finalized and promulgated by the Secretary of the Commonwealth in accordance with state law. The CCC is required to promulgate new regulations implementing Chapter 180 (HCAs and municipal equity) no later than Nov. 9.