SENATE DOCKET, NO. 466        FILED ON: 2/1/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 75

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 establishing a minimum age of entry for cannabis-related events, conferences, forums and exhibitions.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 466        FILED ON: 2/1/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 75

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3704 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to establishing a minimum age of entry for cannabis-related events, conferences, forums and exhibitions.

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

Chapter 94G of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 22. Any marijuana-related event, forum, convention or conference to promote or encourage marijuana use or to educate users or prospective users on marijuana use, marijuana products or marijuana accessories held at any location in the commonwealth shall have a minimum age requirement of 21 years of age, and the organizer of such event, forum, convention or conference shall ensure that any person attending the event is at least 21 years of age; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to marijuana use prevention programs for youth, youth educational programs or substance misuse programs related to marijuana use.

An event organizer that fails to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000; provided that an event organizer who reasonably relies on: (i) a liquor purchase identification card issued pursuant to section 34B of chapter 138, (ii)  a motor vehicle license issued pursuant to section 8 of chapter 90, (iii) an identification card issued under section 8E of said chapter 90, (iv) a valid passport issued by the United States government, or by the government, recognized by the United States government, of a foreign country, or (v) a valid United States issued military identification card, for proof of a person's identity and age shall be presumed to have acted with due care and shall not be found to have failed to comply with this section; but such presumption shall be rebuttable.