SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1725        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1079

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the diversity of the cannabis control commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1725        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1079

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to the diversity of the cannabis control commission.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016 is hereby amended by striking, in Section 1, subsections (a), (b), and (d) of Section 76 and replacing thereof the following:-

(a)  There shall be a commission known as the cannabis control commission to have general supervision and sole regulatory authority over the conduct of the business of marijuana establishments as defined in chapter 94G of the General Laws. The commission shall consist of 1 commissioner, appointed by the governor of the Commonwealth, and 8 associate commissioners, one appointed by the treasurer, one appointed by the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, one appointed by the commissioner of the department of public health, one appointed by the president of the Massachusetts municipal association mayors’ association, one appointed by the president of the Senate, one appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. Not more than 5 members of the commission shall be of the same political party. The commissioner shall serve a term co-terminous with the governor. The associate commissioners shall serve a term of 4 years. Any vacancy occurring for any reason other than the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b)  The appointers shall appoint commissioners based on their experience or expertise in public health, law enforcement, social justice, the regulation and business of consumer commodities and the production and distribution of marijuana and marijuana products.

(d)  An appointer may remove only the member appointed by them for neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office, after providing the member with a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be heard.