Massachusetts regulators say they are continuing to make progress toward launching the state’s long-awaited social marijuana consumption licenses, with internal work underway and cities and towns beginning the process of opting in.
The Cannabis Control Commission announced Tuesday that four internal working groups remain focused on implementing social consumption regulations, six months after the agency approved final rules for Social Consumption Establishments.
The Social Consumption Regulatory Implementation Project was launched in January and includes working groups focused on regulatory development, operations, licensing, IT configuration, municipal engagement, compliance and public education.
At the commission’s June 11 meeting, Executive Director Travis Ahern outlined several items currently being developed, including a Responsible Vendor Training curriculum for social consumption, licensing and inspection processes, updated Host Community Agreement guidance, public education plans and IT systems to support new applications.
The commission said its working groups are also drafting application materials for Responsible Vendor Training and the new licenses, developing evaluation rubrics, continuing enforcement and licensing process mapping and expanding outreach to municipalities.
“Municipal collaboration is essential to making social consumption successful,” said Commissioner Xiomara Albán DeLobato. “Cities and towns serve more than just a procedural step in this process; they are implementation partners.”
She said commission staff have been working to build the licensing, compliance, training, municipal engagement and public education infrastructure needed to launch the new sector responsibly.
Under the regulations, municipalities must opt in before social consumption businesses can operate within their borders. Cities and towns may do so through a local ordinance, bylaw, vote, referendum or other lawful municipal action.
Once a municipality opts in, it must update zoning rules to allow Social Consumption Establishments and establish local approval processes. Municipalities must also begin negotiating Host Community Agreements with prospective licensees before applicants can seek state licensure.
The commission recently launched a Municipal Zoning Tracker: Social Consumption form for cities and towns to report opt-in actions. Submitted information will be reflected in the agency’s Municipal Zoning Tracker, which covers all 351 municipalities in Massachusetts and allows prospective licensees to see where different types of marijuana businesses are allowed.
Municipalities may also decide whether to set local time restrictions for marijuana sales at social consumption establishments, allow the sale of non-infused food and beverages, and establish local strategies to support equity applicants.
