Colin A. Young
Regulators hope to present an updated framework of rules governing establishments where adults can use marijuana together in social settings by the end of this year, more than seven years after the Cannabis Control Commission began tackling the issue. I'm thinking.
Acting CCC Chairman Bruce Stebbins told the Cannabis Advisory Committee on Thursday that the CCC group, which works on social consumption issues, is starting to build out “what the actual regulation would look like.” . He said next steps include getting things running with the governor, attorney general, treasurer and other key stakeholders.
“We are working with an internal working team to outline and prepare the final draft framework. We are targeting a public presentation by the end of the year,” he said. “We will then work through the promulgation process and continue our ongoing advocacy efforts.”
The 2016 voter law that legalized marijuana use by adults allowed the CCC to allow social consumption sites (just like buying alcohol at a bar or buying cigars at a cigar bar) to allow adults to buy marijuana at the same location. Authorized to obtain a license (where marijuana may be purchased and used). But traction has so far been elusive. The agency initially moved to create social consumption licenses in the first round of regulation in 2018, but agreed to a delay amid criticism from Gov. Charlie Baker's administration and the Legislature.
A 2019 regulatory framework that called for the rollout of cannabis cafes and other social consumption sites in a 12-municipal pilot program was scrapped by a CCC vote in May 2023, and the agency launched its latest social consumption initiative. did.
Stebbins on Thursday emphasized three things he said are essential to a successful rollout: public awareness (he said the CCC is seeking an additional $500,000 in spending on a social consumer awareness campaign; ), training for workers at social consumption sites, and outreach to local governments.
“Commissioner Stebbins and I have been talking about funding this public awareness campaign with everyone who will listen in state government, and I think that's the key. This is nothing new for Massachusetts. No. Social consumption is happening, but it's happening in legacy markets, right? And it's happening in private places,” CCC Secretary Nuris Camargo said on Thursday. “But we just need to make sure we educate the consumer. A lot of people who are interested in canna will be checking out these spots and locations and events. And we've worked with law enforcement multiple times. We talked about it. There's still a huge amount of education required in law enforcement. So I'm excited about that.”
