New Municipal Zoning Tracker Increases Insight into Local Adult-Use Cannabis Developments

New Municipal Zoning Tracker Increases Insight into Local Adult-Use Cannabis Developments

WORCESTER—The Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) on Wednesday launched a new webpage to help license applicants, cities and towns, and the public identify the status of adult-use cannabis zoning and related policies across the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns.

Now available at MassCannabisControl.Com/MunicipalTracker, the Commission’s database will enable constituents to quickly search whether a location might have passed planning or zoning that pertains to adult-use cannabis, if a license cap might be in place, or if a full or partial ban may prevent the siting of Marijuana Establishments there. With the introduction of new Commission license types at the end of 2019, the public also will be able to follow the municipalities that authorize home delivery in their community or participate in a future pilot program to support the state’s first social consumption establishments.

“By compiling the status of adult-use cannabis across Massachusetts in one central location, the Commission has furthered its commitment to implementing a regulated industry that is transparent and accessible to a wide range of stakeholders,” Commissioner Kay Doyle said. “This resource will provide local leaders with a basis to share information around planning and zoning best practices, simplify license applicants’ search for a host municipality, and keep the public up-to-date about the progress of legalization in our state.”

The Commission developed the tracker through voluntary surveys it distributed in 2018 and 2019 to municipalities statewide concerning zoning, bylaws, and similar issues relative to adult-use cannabis. Results were then organized into a table that identifies each city and town, the link to their official page to create direct lines of communication with the community, and the status of planning, zoning, and related decisions that impact the industry in that area.

All available data has been self-reported by the city or town but not every municipality has responded to the Commission’s survey. The page will be updated biweekly and expanded as the Commission receives new information from local officials. When applicable, certain zoning updates may be subject to review by the Attorney General’s Office. Constituents with questions about a local approval process should seek clarification from the municipality.

Along with the tracker, the Commission is in the process of developing new technology that aims to provide constituents with direct insight into an applicant’s place in the Commission’s licensing process. A multitude of guidance documents remain available to the public to assist with the ongoing implementation of legal adult-use cannabis in Massachusetts; they range in topic from host community agreements, recommendations for supporting an equitable industry, and local decision-making considerations, to the Commission’s licensing process and compliance areas such as energy efficiency and conservation.

For more information about the Massachusetts adult-use cannabis industry, visit MassCannabisControl.Com, contact the Commission by emailing Commission@CCCMass.Com or calling 774-415-0200, or follow the agency on Facebook and Twitter.

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