Press Room

An Act modernizing the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws improves the state’s oversight of the maturing cannabis industry by reorganizing the Cannabis Control Commission, updating limits on licenses held by retailers, and modestly increasing the amount of cannabis that adults can possess for recreational use.

The details of the legislation are below.

Reorganizing the Cannabis Control Commission

Streamlines the CCC. Restructures the commission to lead the way on regulating the seven-year-old cannabis industry with a board of three members. Solidifies the commission’s public accountability with two members appointed by the Governor,
including the chair, and one member appointed by the Attorney General. The chair’s term would align with the Governor’s term in office, while the other two commission members would serve four-year terms at the pleasure of their appointing
authorities. Authorizes the chair to directly appoint the CCC’s executive director, who would be able to exercise independent
authority over the agency’s enforcement and operational units.

Updating Limits on Retail Licenses

Increases Possible Cannabis Licenses. Allows licensed cannabis retailers to expand their businesses in the Massachusetts market by holding up to four licenses each, instead of the current maximum of three.

Increases Equity Threshold. Encourages additional investment in cannabis businesses by raising the threshold—from 10 to 12 per cent—for holders of equity in a cannabis business to be considered owners for the purpose of counting toward the
limit on licenses they can hold.

Encourages Fiscal Solvency for Retailers. Creates penalties for cannabis license-holders who are categorized as ‘delinquent’—remaining in debt to another licensee for more than 60 days—by prohibiting other licensees from delivering products to them while prohibiting the delinquent company from changing ownership or control of its license until the debts are paid.

Modernizing Adult Recreational Possession, and More

Updates Allowable Amount to Possess. Increases the amount of marijuana that an adult can possess for recreational use, from 1 ounce to 2 ounces, in response to the fact that recreational cannabis use has been a common practice for more than
seven years.

Offers Flexibility to Medical Marijuana Licensees. Removes the current requirement that, in order to operate a medical marijuana establishment, a single licensee must simultaneously cultivate, process, and dispense the marijuana.

Recognizes Other States’ Medical Cards. Allows portability of medical marijuana prescriptions by recognizing valid patient registrations from other U.S. states or districts for sales at Massachusetts medical dispensaries.

Directs Further Data-Gathering. Directs the CCC to conduct a study on the mental health outcomes of cannabis use in Massachusetts.