News / Bulletin | Essential Services During COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) State of Emergency | March 23, 2020
Bulletin | Essential Services During COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) State of Emergency | March 23, 2020
To:Certifying Health Care Providers and Medical Marijuana Patients
From: Shawn Collins, Executive Director
Date: March 23, 2020
Subject: Essential Services During COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) State of Emergency
On March 23, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker ordered all businesses that are not offering essential services to close operations from 12:00PM on March 24, 2020 until 12:00PM on April 7, 2020. Governor Baker deemed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MTCs) and Certifying Health Care Providers (Providers) to be essential services that will remain open. The Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) is providing this bulletin to Certifying Health Care Providers (Providers) who are registered with the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program for information and assistance. This bulletin supplements and updates the Commission’s bulletins issued March 20, 2020, March 18, 2020, and March 13, 2020.
The Executive Director, acting on behalf of the Commission, has ordered adult-use Marijuana Establishments (MEs) and Colocated Marijuana Operations (CMOs) conducting adult-use retail at non-colocated premises to cease and desist operations in accordance with the Governor’s March 23, 2020 order. CMOs may continue to serve Registered Qualifying Patients, but will not conduct adult-use sales. MTCs must follow Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health directives on social distancing, cleaning, and steps to protect populations particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
As stated in the Commission’s March 20, 2020, bulletin, Providers may seek a waiver to certify new patients via telehealth for the Medical Use of Marijuana Program. Commission regulations already permit renewal certifications via telehealth if an in-person visit has occurred with the past year.
The Commission remains open and will continue to process patient registrations throughout this period.
Commission March 18, 2020 Bulletin: Licensees’ Preparation for COVID-19
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