Amendment #30 to H4187

Providing Relief While Protecting Equity

Mr. Worrell of Boston moves to amend the bill by striking out certain words in multiple sections and inserting the following new text:

Section 1.

In section 34 by striking out, in line 458, the figure “6” and inserting in its place:-

“4”.

Section 2.

In section 34 by striking out, in line 469, the phrase “in a” and inserting in its place:-

“in one additional license and less than 10% in any additional”.

Section 3.

In section 52 by striking out, in lines 907 and 908, the phrase “, or more than 5 retail licenses until thirty-six months after the effective date of this Act”.

Section 4.

By inserting the following section:-

“SECTION 60. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to examine and make recommendations regarding the appropriate structure and limits of marijuana and medical marijuana licensure to ensure a competitive, equitable, and sustainable cannabis marketplace in the Commonwealth.

(b) The commission shall include:

the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on cannabis policy, who shall serve as co-chairs;

the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on ways & means or their designee;

the house and senate chairs of the joint committee community development and small businesses or their designee;

one member appointed by the speaker of the house;

one member appointed by the senate president;

one member appointed by the house minority leader;

one member appointed by the senate minority leader;

the chair of the massachusetts black and latino legislative caucus, or a designee;

the executive director of the cannabis control commission, or a designee;

the secretary of economic development, or a designee;

cannabis advisory board members

whom shall be an expert in marijuana cultivation,

whom shall be an expert in marijuana retailing,

whom shall be an expert in marijuana product manufacturing,

whom shall be an expert in laboratory sciences and toxicology,

whom shall be an expert in providing legal services to marijuana businesses,

whom shall be an expert in minority business development,

whom shall be an expert in economic development strategies for under-resourced communities, whom shall be an expert in farming or representing the interests of farmers,

whom shall be an expert representing the interests of employers,

whom shall be an expert in social welfare or social justice,

whom shall be an expert in criminal justice reform to mitigate the disproportionate impact of drug prosecutions on communities of color,

whom shall be an expert in minority business ownership,

whom shall be an expert in women-owned business ownership and

whom shall be an expert in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders;

the executive director of equitable opportunities now, or a designee;

the executive director of the massachusetts cannabis coalition, or a designee;

the executive director of the massachusetts cannabis business association, or a designee;

seven social equity business owners appointed one each by the

Governor,

treasurer,

attorney general,

speaker of the house,

senate president,

house minority leader, and

senate minority leader;

Seven general applicant license owners who do not hold licenses in other states appointed one each by the

Governor,

treasurer,

attorney general,

speaker of the house,

senate president,

house minority leader, and

senate minority leader;

Five general applicant license owners who hold licenses in other states appointed one each by the

Governor,

treasurer,

attorney general,

speaker of the house,

senate president,

(c) The commission shall:

review data regarding license ownership, control, and equity outcomes;

assess the impact of increasing the retail license limit to 4 and allowing limited joint ventures with control up to 35% ownership stakes

request and/or commission research from the cannabis control commission’s research department, the umass donahue institute, massachusetts budget and policy priorities, and other independent nonprofits and academic research institutions

convene public listening sessions and invite special guests to public meetings to gather input from affected stakeholders and expert testimony;

evaluate the impact of market concentration on small and equity businesses;

consider best practices in other states to preserve competitive and diverse cannabis markets; and

propose recommendations for future statutory or regulatory reforms to ensure broad-based opportunity and prevent monopolization or anti-competitive behavior.

(d) The commission shall hold its first meeting within twelve months of the effective date of this law, hold no less than three public listening sessions and three public meetings per year, and accept written testimony. The commission shall file a report, including any recommendations for legislation, with the House and Senate Clerks no later than five years after the effective date of this law.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #30 to H4187

Providing Relief While Protecting Equity