Massachusetts Approves Final Regulations for Social Cannabis Use

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission last Thursday voted
unanimously to create three new license types allowing social cannabis
consumption in the state.

The new license types include supplemental licenses for existing licensees
to allow on-site consumption, hospitality licenses for new or non-cannabis
businesses to allow cannabis consumption in partnership with existing
operators, and event organizer licenses for temporary consumption events.
The CCC also set rules and industry training requirements to hopefully
prevent overconsumption and impaired driving.

Massachusetts voters approved the social consumption language as part of
the state’s 2016 cannabis legalization initiative, but officials have
rolled out the regulations more slowly than the industry’s other offerings.
Under the state law, social use licenses will only be allowed in towns or
municipalities that opt in through a referendum, ordinance, or bylaw.

“Today’s vote marks a long-awaited and carefully considered milestone for
Massachusetts’ regulated cannabis industry. By finalizing the Social
Consumption license-type, the Commission is honoring the will of the voters
who envisioned safe, legal spaces for adult-use cannabis, while maintaining
strong safeguards to protect public health and public safety. This
achievement represents years of collaboration among stakeholders,
policymakers, and communities across the Commonwealth.” — Commissioner
Kimberly Roy, in a statement

The Commission was originally scheduled to discuss the social consumption
expansions in September. The schedule, however, was delayed by the
reinstatement of CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien, who returned to the role this
fall after legally challenging her suspension and firing by State Treasurer
Deb Goldberg about two years ago.