The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) published tools to assist host communities with implementing local equity policies. The Commission issued a Model Municipal Equity By-Law or Ordinance Template, along with a Guidance on Municipal Equity and Industry Participation to help with creating the rules supporting communities that have been disproportionately harmed by previous marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
"Along with the Commonwealth and industry, Host Communities play a critical role in ensuring Massachusetts' licensed cannabis market is equitable," stated acting chair Ava Callender Concepcion. "These latest Commission resources are designed to offer cities and towns clear pathways to incorporating inclusive local licensing policies that will help us fulfill our nation-leading mandate and achieve our collective goal once and for all."
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Minimum Policies That Support Transparency
Under Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022, the commission was required to establish certain policies for cities and towns to adopt for their engagements with license applicants and licensees that are equity applicants as identified below:
- Social Equity Program Participants (SEP),
- Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants (EEA),
- A new category of Social Equity Businesses (SEB), defined as Marijuana Establishments that consist of majority ownership by individuals who are approved SEPs, EEAs, or both; and
- Individuals and entities that are pre-verified or verified by the Commission as SEBs.
Cities and towns that host cannabis licensees in their community are now required to adopt minimum policies and procedures that support transparency and establish equity plans and standards, including, but not limited to the following:
- Adopting the agency's Model Municipal Equity By-Law or Ordinance Template;
- Adopting an ordinance or by-law to exclusively permit SEBs for at least three (3) years; or
- Creating a local approval process for equity applicants (EEAs, SEBs, SEPs, and verified or pre-verified SEBs) that is administered on a 1:1 basis.
Host Communities have until May 1, 2025, before the commission imposes fines against those that are out of compliance and/or have failed to come into compliance.
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