Massachusetts proposes draft regulations that include agency’s Host Community Agreement oversight, municipal equity requirements, and suitability reform.
According to a recent press release (1), the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) approved historic changes to Massachusetts’ adult and medical use of cannabis regulations with the goals of leveling the playing field for entrants into the legal industry, increasing access for small businesses and those from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition, and ensuring compliance with the state law.
According to Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly (2), regulatory changes include measures to clear the way for people with past criminal records to work in marijuana shops and to allow all cities and towns to eventually host cannabis cafes. The CCC’s website also reports that revisions include new parameters for the local contracts that host cities and towns must enter with Marijuana Establishments and Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to site such facilities, also known as Host Community Agreements (HCAs), and local policies that communities must implement to comply with the state’s mandate to ensure equity in Massachusetts’ regulated marketplace. Other proposals seek to eliminate disqualifications that prevent prospective Registered Agents from employment in the legal industry and expand to all cities and towns in the Commonwealth the ability to opt-in to hosting Social Consumption Establishments.
“As the sole Commissioner who had a piece of all three regulatory topics we voted on today, I couldn’t be more excited about the new opportunities presented in these drafts that aim to make Massachusetts’s regulated cannabis industry more accessible and inclusive,” stated Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion in the CCC press release (1). “Whether it is ensuring a more transparent and fair process for applicants at the local level or removing barriers to entry for individuals interested in working in this still-newly regulated industry – I hope that the steps we are taking continue opening doors for those who were disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs and deserve a place in this market.”
The next steps for these proposed draft regulations will be to allow constituents and stakeholders to weigh in on all proposals through public comments as written testimony and a planned public hearing on September 8, 2023. After that, the CCC will reconvene to consider feedback and vote on final regulations.
References
Ep 27: Tracking Strains in Diverse Landscapes
July 2nd 2025In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge, we are joined by Daniela Vergara, PhD, Hemp Specialist at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Anna Schwabe, PhD, Associate Lecture Professor at the University of Colorado, discussing the evolution of cannabis cultivation and the need for regional climate data. Their recent project, funded by the Agricultural Genomics Foundation, studies 10 cannabis varieties grown by farmers in different regions, specifically plant characteristics, soil type, and harvest metrics. They aim to understand how environmental factors affect cannabis yield and quality, providing actionable insights for farmers and breeders.
Ep 26: Innovations in Drying and Curing to Protect Flower Quality
May 27th 2025In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge, we are joined by Dr. Allison Justice, Founder and CEO of the Hemp Mine, and David Sandelman COO, CTO & Co-Founder of Cannatrol. Here, Allison and David discuss innovations in cannabis drying and curing, focusing on the Cannatrol technology which controls vapor pressure, preserving trichome integrity, and flower quality. Additionally, Allison shares how the Cannabis Research Center and Coalition (CRC) is transition to an open-source model to support cultivators, researchers, and home growers.