Cannabis Control Commissioner Bruce Stebbins Named to a Second Term by Governor, State Treasurer, and Attorney General

WORCESTER—Following the announcement that Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg have appointed Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins to serve a second, five-year term as the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (Commission)’s regulated industry appointee, agency leaders have issued the following statements.

“I am excited to begin a new term, and want to thank the Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer for their confidence in my reappointment,” Acting Chair Stebbins said. “The Commission has ushered forward policies that level the playing field between licensees and host communities, will reduce regulatory burdens for small businesses, enhance product safeguards, and advance the state’s first Social Consumption Establishments. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues, our team, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders to continue our momentum to ensure Massachusetts remains a leader when it comes to safe, equitable, and effective cannabis regulation.”

“Acting Chair Stebbins’ unwavering focus on regulating cannabis safely and thoughtfully has helped move Massachusetts forward,” Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion said. “Together we have established the agency’s first-ever charter governing collaboration between the Commission and staff, supported key transitions in leadership, protected patient access on the Islands and beyond, and returned significant revenue to state coffers—just to name a few examples—so I am eager to see what his next term will bring.”

“It is no surprise that Acting Chair Stebbins has been appointed to a second term after the agency’s collective efforts to build a safer, more efficient, and fair cannabis industry,” Commissioner Kimberly Roy said. “It has been a pleasure to work with him to address complicated issues facing Massachusetts’ adult-use and medical programs—from enabling the expansion of Microbusinesses, increasing transparency and reliability in testing, to working jointly on the first-in-the-nation cannabis impairment drivers’ education curriculum for Massachusetts youngest drivers.  Our constituents are well served by his ongoing contributions.”

“Acting Chair Stebbins has proven to be an expert on complex regulatory systems and a steady leader during times of change,” Executive Director Travis Ahern said. “We are grateful he will continue to serve to ensure our agency’s long-term success as Massachusetts’ $8 billion market continues to mature.”

Per statute, one of Massachusetts’ five Cannabis Control Commissioners is appointed to serve a five-year term for professional experience in oversight or industry management—including commodities, production or distribution in a regulated industry—based on a majority vote of the Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer. Last fall, Treasurer Goldberg appointed Commissioner Stebbins to serve as the agency’s Acting Chair as well.

During Acting Chair Stebbins’ term, the Commission has passed and/or implemented multiple major regulatory packages, including:

• Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 reforms, which include the agency’s newfound oversight of host community agreements and equitable licensing processes at the municipal level, workforce suitability changes, and the ability of cities and towns to opt-into social consumption for the first time; and
• Elimination of the “two-agent” rule for delivery and lab transport, as well as expansions for Microbusinesses and Craft Marijuana Cooperatives.

This month, the agency filed another round of draft regulations with the Secretary of the Commonwealth that will ultimately govern the on-site social consumption of cannabis, which culminated the contributions of an internal working group that Acting Chair Stebbins helped lead. To get to this point, members hosted several listening sessions, numerous stakeholder meetings, and offered an informal public comment period for initial feedback.

Other highlights of Commission progress during Stebbins’ tenure as Acting Chair include the agency’s hiring of Executive Director Travis Ahern following a nationwide search; continued outreach and engagement with the Legislature and municipalities, as well as policy-focused listening sessions and recurring meetings with Independent Testing Laboratories; the extension of an existing exclusivity period that carves out delivery licensure for participants of the Commission’s equity programming; multiple enforcement initiatives to enhance product safety and transparency in testing; and the approval of the agency’s first charter to govern operations and collaboration between Commissioners and staff.

Following the first two Marijuana Retailers opening in the Commonwealth in 2018, adult-use cannabis has generated more than $8 billion in gross sales. Meanwhile Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers have generated more than $1.48 billion in gross sales since the Medical Use of Marijuana Program transferred to Commission oversight that same year.

Prior to regulating cannabis, Acting Chair Stebbins was a Commissioner for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the agency responsible for implementing and overseeing the expanded gaming law. He has held numerous roles in local, regional, and federal government throughout his career.

For additional information, visit MassCannabisControl.com, contact the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.com), or follow the agency on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

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