In 2016, when Massachusetts residents voted to legalize recreational marijuana, communities were apprehensive about the implications of new cannabis stores in their neighborhoods.
Shannon O’Brien, the chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, likened the situation to an incoming opium den during a discussion on Boston Public Radio. At the time, the commissioners erred on the side of caution, implementing stringent regulations for the nascent cannabis business landscape, with the intention of revising them later. Over the years, cannabis use and dispensaries have become more commonplace, prompting the need to reevaluate some of the overly restrictive regulations that might not necessarily safeguard health and safety.
One such regulation is the requirement for all marijuana businesses in Massachusetts to maintain on-site video surveillance and store the footage for 90 days for law enforcement and regulatory accessibility. O’Brien proposed a revision to reduce this duration to 60 days, potentially saving businesses significant cloud storage fees and allowing them to thrive despite the decrease in cannabis prices.
The Commission also emphasized promoting active involvement and providing benefits to individuals disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. To achieve this, they introduced social equity or economic empowerment programs. Participants in these programs receive certain fee waivers, priority processing of applications, and access to training. However, the hurdle lies in financing during the startup phase, as most banks refuse to work with cannabis entrepreneurs due to federal-level marijuana illegality.
To address this financial gap, the Social Equity Fund was established in 2022, intending to allocate 15% of cannabis fees and taxes to support entrepreneurs from communities impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. While this holds great promise, O’Brien acknowledged the challenge of accessing funds in a timely and continuous manner for social equity candidates. She has been collaborating with Keisha Brice, the chair of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board, to address this issue and ensure a smoother funding process.
As they work on finalizing the infrastructure for the Social Equity Fund, O’Brien seeks to partner with external organizations to assist entrepreneurs of color. Currently, around 400 “social equity” entrepreneurs have been provisionally licensed, and O’Brien believes the focus should be on helping these qualified applicants cross the finish line and commence operations successfully.
Another initiative that awaits progress is the establishment of social consumption sites for cannabis. The Cannabis Control Commission formulated a pilot program for such sites in 2019, but the timeline for their implementation remains uncertain. O’Brien suggested bringing in commissioners Camargo and Stebbins, who are gathering input from stakeholders to understand the potential impact of these sites. She aims to determine the next steps for this project by November 9.