Boston Business Journal | Cannabis oversight board to lobby legislators for greater industry equity

In a change from its past approach, the state board that oversees cannabis licensing says it plans to take a more active role in lobbying the state Legislature for changes that will ensure greater equity across the industry.

All five members of the Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday spoke in support of the lobbying efforts, which will start with attempts to establish a statewide fund, using both private and public money, that will give grants or low/no-interest loans to disenfranchised applicants.

“This industry lacks access to capital,” said Commissioner Nurys Camargo. “Small business loans, grants and other services that are available to regular businesses are not to marijuana operators. In many cases, this has encouraged predatory lending, and led to a lack of diversity and inclusion, and most importantly, as per our law, full participation by individuals who have been harmed by marijuana prohibition.”

Camargo said that while Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to have an equity cannabis mandate, “the task is incomplete.”

Read more here: https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2021/11/19/cannabis-oversight-board-to-lobby-legislators-for.html