Cannabis Control Commission Releases Final Governance Charter

The charter will guide the agency in its duty to regulate the Massachusetts cannabis safely and effectively

WORCESTER –The Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) has released the final version of its new governance charter, a document that clearly delineates the duties of Commissioners, the Executive Director, and staff following several years of focused deliberations.

Constituents and the general public can review the governance charter on the Commission website following a vote to approve the document at the May 22 public meeting.

“Our goal with this charter was to solidify and refine agency procedures to build upon the work of the individuals who were instrumental in getting the agency off the ground,” Executive Director Travis Ahern said. “Coming into the Commission, I prioritized finishing the charter to ensure we can move forward effectively and efficiently in our mission to oversee a safe, equitable cannabis industry in Massachusetts.”

The process of drafting a new governance charter began in 2022 when Commissioners and staff sought to better define distinctions in roles and responsibilities alongside the rapid growth of the cannabis industry. The charter process included a review of how other agencies, including the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, defined governance. Commissioners also engaged with a mediator to facilitate progress on the charter.

Important parts of the governance charter include:

• Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the Executive Director, Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary;
• A formal process for electing an interim chair in either the absence, incapacitation, or removal of the chair;  
• Creating a code of practice for interactions between and among Commissioners, the executive director and staff;  
• And an outreach policy naming the Commissioners as official spokespersons who may speak on behalf of the Commission on fully vetted and approved items.

“I’m confident that this charter will help the Commission enter a new era with a renewed focus on our work. I appreciate the collaboration with my colleagues and the focus of the Executive Director to offer his input on the final document,” Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins said. “We are excited to move forward with a new, clear set of guidelines to guide the work of Commissioners, the executive director, and staff.”

Deliberations on the governance charter took place in both public and executive session meetings. Videos of the private executive session meetings have been released to the public and are available to view on the Commission’s YouTube page.

Additional information is available by viewing the governance charter or by visiting MassCannabisControl.com, by contacting the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.com), or following the agency on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

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