Notice of Public Hearings and Comment | 7/24/20 – 8/14/20

Notice is given pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 2, that the Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings and receive public comment on the promulgation of the following:

Revised regulations for 935 CMR 500.000: Adult Use of Marijuana and 935 CMR 501.000: Medical Use of Marijuana, and the potential elimination of 935 CMR 502.000: Colocated Adult-Use and Medical-Use Marijuana Operations. The elimination of 935 CMR 502.000 reflects the Commission’s ability to bring parity to 935 CMR 501.000 and 935 CMR 500.000.

The revisions address: registration, licensing, and operational issues, including but not limited to, refinements to the definition of persons or entities with direct or indirect control and the establishment of new requirements for receivership, potency limits, product testing, advertising and branding, safety and security procedures, and training requirements. Revisions also address patient access issues such as patient certification and registration and hardship cultivation. There are also changes to certain programs, including the Social Equity Program and the Leadership Rating Program.

The Commission seeks oral, electronic, and written comment on the draft regulations. The regulations are promulgated pursuant to the Commission’s authority under M.G.L. c. 94G, Regulation of the Use and Distribution of Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed; and M.G.L. c. 94I, Medical Use of Marijuana.

The text of the proposed regulations may also be viewed by visiting the Commission’s The Laws webpage, emailing Commission@CCCMass.com, or calling the Commission at (774) 415-0200.

The Commission will also receive electronic or written comment on:

• Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Finished Marijuana Products and Marijuana Products for Marijuana Establishments, Marijuana Treatment Centers;
• Colocated Marijuana Operations, Published for Written Comment July 24, 2020 (Testing Protocol);
• Formal Petition to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for Amendment to 935 CMR 500.160, “Testing of Marijuana and Marijuana Products (Testing Petition),” which the Commission will consider to be submitted under 935 CMR 500.830 and 935 CMR 501.830; and
• A proposal, which is not currently integrated in the draft regulations, to allow vertically integrated Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers subject to licensing caps under G.L. c. 94G, § 16, to apply for certain endorsements, including cultivation, marijuana product manufacturing, or retail endorsements.

Public hearings.

The Commission encourages interested parties to attend public hearings and provide comment, which will be held on the following date, time, and location:

At these hearings, speakers are asked to provide a copy of their oral testimony.

Electronic submissions.

The Commission strongly encourages interested parties to submit testimony electronically to: Commission@CCCMass.com. Electronic testimony can be submitted as an attached Word document or as text within the body of an email and with the subject of “Draft Regulations: Adult Use of Marijuana” or “Draft Regulations: Medical Use of Marijuana” or “Comment on Testing Protocol” or “Comment on Draft Regulations and Testing Protocol,” as appropriate. The Commission asks commenters to provide their full name, city/town and state, and if available, electronic mail address. If possible, we also ask that commenters identify the section of the regulations that applies to their comments.

Written submissions.

If interested parties are unable to submit electronic testimony, they can mail written submissions to:

Cannabis Control Commission
ATTN: DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES
Union Station
2 Washington Square
Worcester, MA 01604

Because the Commission’s offices are closed due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, for the Commission to receive submissions by mail, we recommend sending the submission via the US Postal Service without requiring a signature.

All public testimony and comment should be submitted as soon as possible, and not later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020. Any submissions received after that date will not be considered as timely and may not be reviewed. In the interest of transparency, the Commission may publish the submissions it receives on its website or produce these submissions in response to a request made under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, or other compulsory legal process.

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