Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Issues Statement on UMass Poll Findings: Majority of Massachusetts Residents Feel Legalization Has Been Positive

WORCESTER—This week, UMass Amherst/WCVB published the results of a poll that further demonstrate the maturation of the Commonwealth’s legal adult-use marketplace: 61% of Massachusetts residents, out of 750 respondents, said they feel legalization has had a positive impact on the state. November 20 also marked the three-year anniversary of the first adult-use Marijuana Retailers opening in Massachusetts—the first on the East Coast. Since then, an additional 179 stores have commenced operations, and a total of 325 adult-use Marijuana Establishments, including indoor and outdoor Cultivators, Product Manufacturers, Microbusinesses, Delivery Businesses, and Independent Testing Laboratories, among others, have opened. The Commonwealth’s adult-use cannabis industry has generated more than $2.3 billion of gross sales revenue since November 20, 2018, and $1.17 billion this calendar year alone.

Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) Chairman Steven J. Hoffman has issued the following statement in response to the UMass Amherst/WCVB poll results:

“I remain proud of the Commission’s smooth rollout of the Massachusetts adult-use cannabis industry, and its measured growth these past three years. The fact that 61% of respondents feel adult-use legalization has been positive for our state is a testament to licensees’ ability to comply with safe, effective regulations, and the leadership of Commissioners and staff, past and present, who share a strong commitment to the agency’s mission statement, meeting our legislative mandates, and upholding the will of voters.

“This poll also shows that legalization is reducing the stigma historically associated with cannabis, which will only enable the Commission to continue making headway on efforts to ensure full participation in this industry by disproportionately harmed communities. Our work is far from done, and my colleagues and I will continue to be vocal about the solutions that are needed to ensure Massachusetts meets its equity mandate.”

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