Lawmakers on the Cannabis Policy Committee, prompted by months of internal drama at the Cannabis Control Commission and a call from the state inspector general to put the CCC into receivership, held a hearing Wednesday to help inform a path forward for the agency and the potential for legislative changes.
The State House hearing featured testimony from groups representing medical marijuana patients, equity advocates, and the owners of different types of cannabis businesses. One question lawmakers drilled into with various speakers was whether the way the CCC is set up makes sense.
Kevin Gilnack of Equitable Opportunities Now urged the committee to preserve “the quasi-independent nature of the CCC.”
“While the CCC deliberations are often very slow and messy, they also prioritize debate, including different perspectives from different commissioners of different backgrounds, and they encourage stakeholder input,” Gilnack said. “The lack of interference from appointing authorities gives the commissioners freedom to make policy decisions they think are best for preserving public health, safety, equitable participation and the success of the industry.”
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State lawmakers weigh independence, structure of Cannabis Control Commission as they consider reforms | GBH News
Eight years after Massachusetts voters passed a ballot law legalizing the adult use of marijuana, state legislators are exploring whether there are ways to make the cannabis regulatory system work better for businesses, consumers and others involved in the industry.
