Massachusetts bill would give Cannabis Control Commission power over marijuana host agreements

A new bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives would put the Cannabis Control Commission in charge of host agreements between marijuana businesses and the cities and towns they want to locate in.

The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy created a new draft of bill H3536 on January 27th and was reported favorably by the committee and was referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing.

According to Statehouse News, H4327 is scheduled to be discussed in a House session Wednesday by Representatives.

Along with the Cannabis Control Commission getting clear power of host community agreements in the bill, the host community agreement requirement will have the option to be waived at the host community’s discretion, provided that the municipality offers the CCC a copy of a written waiver form executed by both the host community and the marijuana establishment or medical marijuana treatment center.

The bill would also state that an agreement between a marijuana establishment or a medical marijuana treatment center and a host community may include a community impact fee for the host community; provided, however, that the community impact fee shall be reasonably related to the costs imposed upon the municipality by the operation of the marijuana establishment or medical marijuana treatment center and shall not amount to more than 3 percent of the gross sales of the marijuana establishment or medical marijuana treatment center or be effective for longer than 5 years.

The idea of a community impact fee is intriguing as thousands in costs have been imposed on the City of Fall River concerning details for traffic at Northeast Alternatives.

The thought of the CCC controlling all host community agreements is telling as former Mayor Jasiel Correia was arrested on allegations that he solicited bribes from at least four marijuana companies that he granted HCAs to.

In September, State Representative Carole Fiola filed bill HD4491, an act relative to licensing requirements for marijuana establishments and medical marijuana treatment centers. The bill would ensure that one sole municipal official is not the only person responsible for approval of a host community agreement which demonstrates support or non-opposition from a host community as needed for licensing requirements for marijuana establishments and medical marijuana treatment centers.