Equitable Opportunities Now
In response to a request for informal public comments, EON submitted the following letter to the Cannabis Control Commission highlighting the many commendable components of its draft social consumption regulations and the process of developing them, and detailing opportunities to strengthen the proposed framework for this new subsector of the cannabis industry.
Social consumption licenses are a new frontier for advancing equitable economic opportunity in the Commonwealth’s cannabis industry — and your input is critical to make sure we get it right.
The initial framework for Marijuana Delivery Operators and Marijuana Couriers has failed to create meaningful economic opportunities for the communities intended to benefit from it due to overly burdensome regulations that emphasize an overly cautious and costly approach that exceeds the standards set by any other state in the country.
On behalf of Equitable Opportunities Now, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and our members and supporters across the Commonwealth, we urge the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) to make the following regulatory changes at the earliest possible opportunity to unlock the potential of these important license types…
All five Cannabis Control Commissioners, along with staff, are anticipated to listen to the community’s feedback and speakers will include leaders from EON and other advocacy organizations, Sen. Liz Miranda, Boston Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cannabis Business Manager Shekia Scott, and about a dozen entrepreneurs from communities harmed by the war on drugs.
The investments and policy decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on whether we create a truly equitable industry.
EON is excited to share with that Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O’Brien, Executive Director Shawn Collins, and Commissioners Nurys Camargo, Ava Concepcion, Kimberly Roy, and Bruce Stebbins will join EON to listen in on our Virtual Community Regulatory Review Listening Session on Thursday, July 6 at 1 PM!
Please take our survey below to share your recommendations, concerns, questions, research, and examples about how we can improve the Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations to increase equitable economic opportunity in MA’s cannabis industry!
Sign up for this virtual session to talk with fellow EON supporters & stakeholders to discuss the Cannabis Control Commission’s regulatory review and plan future engagement and advocacy to ensure effective implementation of An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry!
State House News Service Reporter Chris Linski provided great wire coverage of the CCC’s decision to eliminate the existing social consumption pilot program and focus on long-term, statewide, comprehensive regulations, excerpted below from The Boston Globe but also appearing on WWLP, the Berkshire Eagle, and elsewhere. Here’s an excerpt: Marijuana regulators voted Monday to scrap […]
With the pilot program now off the table, Camargo said commissioners are inviting public outreach on social consumption before it dives into the formal regulatory process. She said they’ll talk to officials from other states where marijuana is legal and host listening sessions, including a virtual one coming up in June.