Governor Maura Healey will take full control of a restructured Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) under a compromise bill that reduces the agency’s size and revamps its leadership structure.
What the Cannabis Reform Bill Changes
The compromise, approved by a committee of the Massachusetts Legislature, reduces the CCC’s membership from five to three members. The deal allows Healey to appoint all three members. Current members were selected by the governor, treasurer, and attorney general.
New Limits for Cannabis Purchases
Boston Public Broadcast Station WGBH reported the bill will “double the limit on how much cannabis an adult can buy or possess in Massachusetts, while also reshaping the state agency that regulates the industry.”
Foley Hoag reported the compromise raises “the legal flower purchase limit for an adult use consumer” from one to two ounces. The publication says the new law will create “an anonymous online portal for reporting illegal practices, including testing fraud.”
Changes for Massachusetts Marijuana Businesses
Under the law, adult-use marijuana retailers can possess up to six licenses, a doubling of the current limit.
According to Marijuana Moment, “A bicameral conference committee has spent months working out provisions of the legislation after the House of Representatives and Senate passed differing versions last year, and the panel approved a compromise approach on Monday.”
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NBC 10 Boston reported, “The bill eliminates the requirement that medical marijuana businesses be vertically integrated, meaning they will no longer be required to grow and process all the marijuana they sell.”
Background on Massachusetts Cannabis Laws
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission was established after voters in 2016 approved legal non-medical marijuana use and sales. The current Cannabis Control Commission will be dissolved, and new members appointed…