The Boston Globe editorial board recently warned, the proposal “deserves further scrutiny” as it could “enhance the dominance of multistate operators.”
Talking Joints Memo was even more blunt.
Former CCC Commissioner Shaleen Title called existing license limits “one of the strongest and most effective ways to support small businesses, promote equity, and protect the public from concerns related to corporate misconduct.”
Commissioner Kimberly Roy warned:
“Current efforts to dismantle codified ownership limits… may also potentially undermine and ultimately disenfranchise the promise made to voters through the passage of Question 4 to support communities most impacted and harmed by previous cannabis prohibition.“
EON, BECMA, & 15 social equity business owners made clear:
“We are ready and willing to work with you and your colleagues to modernize Massachusetts cannabis law, as long as we don’t sell out the future of small, local, independent businessesand entrepreneurs harmed by the war on drugs… But the proposed changes go too far in giving significant market advantages to multi-state operators (MSOs) seeking wholesale discounts, shelf space for the products they grow and manufacture, and retail dominance.“
Equity business owners shared their stories in WBJ and on WBUR.
What happened?
Unfortunately, today the Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to allow the largest cannabis businesses in the Commonwealth to:
- Double their number of licenses
- Hold up to a 35% ownership stake in an unlimited number of additional companies
The bill would also:
- Strip the Cannabis Control Commission of its independence, moving it under the Governor’s control
- Eliminate guaranteed expertise in public health, public safety, and social justice
- Reduce the Commission to one full-time Chair and two part-time Commissioners earning just 10% salary
We deeply appreciate the leadership of our House champions Rep. Chris Worrell and Rep. Andy Vargas, who filed amendments that would have significantly strengthened the bill, and Rep. Mike Connolly for cosponsoring them.Unfortunately, there wasn’t sufficient support to adopt them.
We also commend Speaker of the House Ron Mariano, House Cannabis Policy Chair Dan Donahue, House Ways & Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and their colleagues for including several positive provisions in the House bill that EON strongly supports and we hope the Senate will retain, including:
- Ending medical vertical de-integration with an exclusivity period for social equity businesses
- Creation of an anonymous tip line and greater of ownership limit oversight and enforcement
- Increased purchase and possession limits
- Regulation of CBD and hemp-derived products
What’s next?
Thanks to you — the advocates, entrepreneurs, and allies who sent emails, made calls, signed letters, met with legislators, and raised your voices — we head into the Senate fight stronger and more organized.
Now is the time to redouble our efforts.
Let’s make sure that small businesses and social equity entrepreneurs, who can’t afford armies of lobbyists or PR firms, are heard just as loudly as the MSOs and politically connected insiders pushing this bill.
Take Action Now: Add Your Name to Our Public Sign-On Letter
Make sure you join more than 60 industry insiders and advocates who have signed our public letter in support of protecting ownership limits to help build as much support as possible in the Senate and learn about future advocacy opportunities.
Keep the faith
Together, we can still build a more inclusive, competitive, and equitable cannabis industry that reflects and uplifts the communities it’s meant to serve.
Thank you for standing with small businesses and social equity entrepreneurs.