A Dozen Bills Filed to Tighten Cannabis Rules in Massachusetts

Several key sections of Massachusetts’ cannabis law could be gutted by members of the Massachusetts Legislature. Dispensaries are scheduled to open next year, but a Massachusetts lawmaker has filed 12 proposed bills that would limit recreational cannabis in the state. Rep. Hannah Kane filed the bill proposals and is speaking at a public hearing on the matter.

Kane tirelessly lobbied against recreational cannabis in Massachusetts before it was passed by 54 percent by voters last November. “If it had been a blowout, like 70-30, all the issues would’ve still been there, but you’d have been hard-pressed to make the case for it until people started to see what happened,” she told the Telegram & Gazette. Ms. Kane believes she has a chance at amending the drafting flaws because the bill passed by such a small margin. Municipal Association Executive Director Geoffrey C. Beckwith admitted that the new law has several flaws that could be modified.

Kane plans to include increasing the excise sales tax, rearranging the cannabis control commission and other changes. She also believes that the treasurer shouldn’t be responsible for appointing the three members of the control commission. Kane’s proposal would make the control commission a five-member panel, and diversify who appoints the members.  Massachusetts’ cannabis excise tax was set at 3.75 percent, a low amount compared to other states that regulate cannabis sales. In Washington, for instance, a 37 percent excise tax was imposed on cannabis sales. Some towns, including Westboro, have already opted out of the cannabis program.

Rep. Kane is one of two lawmakers, along with Jamie Eldridge, who are on the Joint Committee on Marijuana that will host a hearing on April 10 at Shrewsbury High School. The 16-member Joint Committee on Marijuana will approve or deny bills headed to full sessions for votes.

“Everyone should have every confidence that some omnibus bill will be coming out of this committee, probably in June,” she promised. Last December, Governor Baker signed a bill to postpone the opening of cannabis shops until mid-2018.