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Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Recognizes Fifth Anniversary and Celebrates Safe, Equitable, and Effective Regulated Industry

November 3, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

On September 1, the Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) celebrated its fifth anniversary, marking five years since the appointment of the inaugural Commission on September 1, 2017. In that time, the regulatory body built a new independent Commission and legal industry from the ground up; the agency now has nearly 90 employees and a new slate of Commissioners, including the September 1 appointment of Chair Shannon O’Brien, with 434 adult-use and 98 medical-use licensees operating across the Commonwealth and over 30,000 registered agents working in the regulated industry. 

“I am incredibly proud of our Commissioners and staff, past and present, whose contributions over the last five years have created the agency you see today. We accomplished building a brand-new agency while at the same time regulating a marketplace that is not new to Massachusetts but is safer and more effective thanks to our collective efforts,” said Executive Director Shawn Collins. “We have made great strides towards our equity mission as an agency and industry, but we all acknowledge there is more to do. We are not intimidated by the challenging and important work that remains, and I look forward to seeing the progress we achieve in the next five years.”

On November 8, 2016, Ballot Question 4 “Legalize Marijuana” passed with 53.6% of the vote in the Commonwealth. At that time, Massachusetts joined seven other states, plus the District of Columbia, that had legalized marijuana for adult use (also known as recreational use). That number has since increased to 18 states as well as some territories. The resulting law in Massachusetts, Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, which was amended by Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017, An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana, created the Commission and delegated oversight of the adult-use cannabis program to the regulatory body.

On August 11, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry, a major reform bill enhancing provisions within the initial statute, after several years of advocacy by Commission members past and present. In August 2021, Commissioners voted to implement a process for Legislative and Executive Branch outreach and then voted unanimously to support a state-administered fund comprised of public and private resources offering zero- or low-interest loans or grants to equity applicants and licensees. Commissioners also supported a technical change allowing social consumption as well as greater authority to regulate host community agreements.

Since Massachusetts’ first two Marijuana Retailers opened in 2018, 235 more have received notices from the Commission to commence operations statewide and are in the process of opening. Another 166 Marijuana Retailers with provisional or final license approval are completing the Commission’s inspection and compliance procedures towards that end. In total, the Commission has licensed 1,155 Marijuana Establishments, including Cultivators, Product Manufacturers, Retailers, Independent Testing Laboratories, Microbusinesses, Marijuana Couriers, and more.

In addition to regulating the adult-use cannabis industry, the Commission has overseen the Medical Use of Marijuana Program (Program) since it was transferred from the Department of Public Health in December of 2018 as required under Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017. The Program has grown from approximately 58,000 patients to almost 100,000 patients, as the agency has implemented several enhancements since assuming Program oversight. The Commission has moved both the medical program and license application for Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MTCs) to the Medical Use of Marijuana Program Online System (MMJOS) and Massachusetts Cannabis Industry Portal (MassCIP) and reduced MTC license application fees from $31,500 to $3,500. The Commission also eliminated patient registration and renewal fees, introduced an Initial Access certification process for Patients and Caregivers to streamline access to medicine, expanded the use of Telehealth certification during the COVID-19 state of emergency, and provided digital applications for interested physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to join the Program, among other updates.

In five years, the agency established two new Commission offices, including a Boston satellite and the first state agency headquarters to ever be established in Worcester—at Union Station. The Commission’s staff has increased to 89 employees, with continued expansions planned in each department. Of note are the Licensing, Enforcement, and Investigations and Compliance teams, which have 42 staff members total and are responsible for reviewing license applications, completing inspections, and recommending new businesses for Commission approval. The Commission’s overall growth continues to contribute to the increased number of entities commencing operations in Massachusetts.

Safe:

Maintaining public health, safety, and welfare is a central pillar of both the Commission’s work and a safe cannabis industry, beginning with ensuring licensee compliance with agency regulations. To that end, the Commission has completed investigations and taken enforcement actions against licensees to ensure they regain compliance related to the illegal use of pesticides, conspiracy to evade Commonwealth licensing and drug laws, failure to disclose changes of ownership, and attempts to evade licensing cap limits in Massachusetts statute.

In the fall of 2019, the Commission executed multiple administrative orders to address Massachusetts’ Vaping State of Emergency and related actions, including initial quarantine of all marijuana products and devices that relied on vaporization or aerosolization; surveying all licensees to understand the ingredients and sources of additives used in marijuana products manufactured in Massachusetts; publishing multiple sets of testing results pertaining to licensed vapes available for sale in Massachusetts, which cleared those products of the use of Vitamin E acetate, considered the primary contaminant of concern; and new packaging, labeling, and testing requirements, including testing of finished vaping products to protect consumers against Vitamin E acetate, heavy metals, and other hazardous additives and contaminants.

Additionally, the Commission launched its Product Catalog – considered the first of its kind in the nation – in April 2021, providing a comprehensive database of legal marijuana products that are sold through the Commonwealth’s licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and Marijuana Establishments. The Product Catalog was designed to increase the public’s awareness of the regulated supply chain in Massachusetts and assist engaged stakeholders, such as school administrators, public safety officials, medical professionals, and parents, with identifying the source of legally produced cannabis merchandise.

Importantly, the Commission has also become a trusted resource for cannabis policy research, data, and guidance—bringing diverse stakeholders together to comprehensively conduct and disseminate research to inform safe and equitable cannabis policy. To satisfy the Commission’s legislative research mandate and add to the collective knowledge of cannabis policy research, the Commission has published 12 research reports and 14 scientific manuscripts. The research team has also given 16 presentations at national scientific meetings as well as another 15 guest lectures. Results from the most current research report, entitled, Cannabis Use Trends in Massachusetts, Findings from the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), 2019-2020 indicate that illicit market activity has decreased as the legal market continues to saturate across the Commonwealth. ICPS is ongoing, and the Commission will continue to analyze and publish new studies on this data. Commission reports are available for the public’s review.

Other efforts to ensure public health and safety include rolling out bulletins, executive orders, and safety measures to assist licensees with operations under the COVID-19 state of emergency. These include telehealth certification of patients by Certified Health Care Providers, required social distancing, cleaning, and sanitation measures in accordance with Baker Administration and CDC protocols, authorization of certain operations that supported the medical supply chain while adult-use licensees remained closed during Phase 1; and curbside and contactless operations (e.g., mobile ordering, encouraged medical delivery services) to prevent the virus’ spread.

Equitable:

Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to mandate equity in its legal cannabis industry, and the Commission remains fully committed to its mission of encouraging and enabling full participation within the marijuana industry from individuals and communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. The Commission’s Social Equity Program (SEP), which was the first statewide program of its kind in the nation and recently codified into state law, has accepted 872 participants into the program across three cohorts. Cohort III is the largest class to date with 446 participants, of which approximately 65% self-identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latino descent.

As of the agency’s September public meeting, the Commission has authorized 22 SEP Participants, 15 Economic Empowerment Applicants (EEAs), and 43 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) to commence operations. Among the three priority review categories, an additional 13 applicants have been approved for final licensure, and 191 were approved for provisional licensure. In its first five years, the agency established three delivery license types, including Marijuana Delivery Courier, Marijuana Delivery Operator, and Microbusiness with Delivery Endorsements, which are exclusively available to SEP Participants and EEAs. The exclusivity period, which lasts for a minimum of 36 months, began on April 1, 2022, when the first Marijuana Delivery Operator received its notice to commence operations.

The Commission continues to engage communities across the Commonwealth through different events. Most recently, the agency partnered with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce – City Awake (City Awake) to host a virtual event in September titled Intersection of Cannabis and Equity designed to inspire the diverse group of Millennials from the Greater Boston area through programming, presentations, and workshops, hearing from numerous experts and voices from the region’s business, civic, and local communities.

The agency has also taken steps to develop, publish, and update Guidance Documents over time, including its Guidance on Diversity Plans, which was updated last year to further assist applicants and licensees in meeting the requirement to outline goals, programs, and measurements for promoting diversity and inclusivity in the cannabis industry. In an additional effort to support industry inclusion, the Commission translated its adult-use and medical-use regulations into Spanish and Portuguese, which are accessible on the Commission’s website.

To ensure its mission is pursued both inside and outside of the Commission, the agency now supports an Access and Equity Workgroup as well as Commission Voices. Also, to that end, the Commission’s current workforce is comprised of 65% women and 35% Persons of Color. In Management, which includes Commissioners, the Executive Director, Department Heads, and Senior Staff, 65% are women and 47% are Persons of Color. In calendar year 2022, 89% of promotions were awarded to women and Persons of Color.

Effective:

A core tenet of the Commission’s work is developing regulations, policies, and programs that facilitate an effective legal cannabis industry. The agency has completed three rounds of regulatory drafting, starting with the first adult-use regulations promulgated in 2018, and at its April 2022 public meeting approved a policy and regulatory review process reflecting the cumulative staff knowledge and experience gathered through prior rounds. The Commission also created processes for changes of ownership, location, and name and reduced the wait for application review from months to days. Additionally, the agency has used its expertise to engage with professional groups and academic institutions focused on the developing area of cannabis law, advance the equity mission by creating an informal hearing process to allow applicants to address suitability issues, and support the agency’s procurement and contract development process which include agreements that enabled the building of MassCIP and Metrc for seed-to-sale tracking, among other key efforts that ensure the Commission’s regulation of the legal industry is effective.

Over five years, the Commission made significant technology investments that have enabled the nearly 90-person agency to work remotely since March 2020 (including the completion of virtual public meetings) and enhanced constituent engagement with the agency. The Commission’s Open Data Platform offers information to the public about applications and licenses, agent registrations and ownership, and sales and product distribution, as well as medical sales data which was added last year. The Commission introduced a new and improved website at MassCannabisControl.com, where it has a Municipal Zoning Tracker that captures where cities and towns are with the implementation of adult-use cannabis legalization based on information that we receive from local officials, in addition to a Find a Retailer locator of all licensed Marijuana Retailers and dispensing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers.

Another measurement of the agency’s regulatory efficacy is industry growth across several major sales milestones. On October 30, 2020, adult-use Marijuana Retailers in Massachusetts surpassed $1 billion in gross sales since the first two adult-use retail stores on the East Coast opened for business on November 20, 2018. Adult-use Retailers reached the $2 billion gross sales milestone on August 31, 2021, and then surpassed $3 billion in gross sales only eight months later on May 14, 2022. 2021 was the first year that Marijuana Retailers generated more than one billion dollars in gross sales in a single calendar year, marking the industry’s substantial growth.

Through FY22, the Commission has returned more than $78 million in non-tax revenue to the Commonwealth, through sources such as application, license, and agent fees, including $2.3 million as the result of penalties and fines. Notably, UMass Amherst published the results of a poll in November 2021 that further demonstrates the maturation of the Commonwealth’s legal adult-use marketplace: 61% of Massachusetts residents said they feel legalization has had a positive impact on the state.

Additional information about the Commission’s mission and ongoing work is available by visiting MassCannabisControl.com, by contacting the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.Com), or following the agency on Facebook and Twitter.


To celebrate the Cannabis Control Commission’s fifth birthday, Commissioners and the Executive Director shared a special anniversary message.

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal Tagged With: 2022 legal cannabis, 5th anniversary, CCC, hepotoxicity, MA, marijuana business news, Massachusetts, MJ Legal News, mjnews, social equity, the business of cannabis, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, THP

Greatest Hits Cannabis Co. And Indian Ranch Announce Exclusive Partnership  

August 10, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

One of Massachusetts Leading Cannabis Brands to Become Exclusive Cannabis Partner of Webster’s Legendary Indian Ranch Concert Venue 

MASSACHUSETTS: Greatest Hits Cannabis Co., a Dudley, MA-based cannabis company with a rapidly expanding retail footprint, today announced an innovative partnership with Indian Ranch, a premier live entertainment and concert venue in Webster, MA. With this partnership, Greatest Hits, known for its music-inspired brand, will become the exclusive cannabis brand sponsor for Indian Ranch music events. The announcement represents the very first integrated, activated cannabis partnership for Indian Ranch and Greatest Hits, which will include marketing opportunities spanning culture, music and entertainment.

Staying true to their brand DNA, “Music and Weed Are All You Need”, Greatest Hits looks to celebrate and exemplify how cannabis can be safely enjoyed through the partnership with Indian Ranch. Greatest Hits will have branding throughout the venue, including signage and other activations during the concert season. Indian Ranch is a unique venue that offers ample outdoor space for concert goers to socialize and enjoy food and beverage offerings. Although Cannabis consumption and purchase is not permitted on-premises,  guests can stop by the Greatest Hits booth and get branded merchandise, promotional materials, and learn about the company’s retail offerings at its Dudley dispensary.

“Being from the Webster area, Indian Ranch holds a special place for me,” shared Greatest Hits co-founder and Webster Native Joe Villatico. “It was therefore a natural fit with our brand to collaborate and partner with Indian Ranch to provide educational opportunities and solidify cannabis’ place in these kinds of lifestyle settings that are so familiar to us all. We look forward to our continued relationship with Indian Ranch and leveraging live events to bring these communities together and create memorable experiences.”

Greatest Hits and Indian Ranch are also looking to collaborate on future lifestyle partnerships, concerts and more in the coming months. 

“We’re excited to have such an innovative cannabis brand as Greatest Hits as our official Cannabis sponsor,” said Suzette Ruan Coppola, President of Indian Ranch “Their emphasis on live events makes them an ideal partner for us. This partnership provided our guests with a unique opportunity to learn more about another leading lifestyle brand and one that’s from our very own community right here in Dudley.

Filed Under: Business, Homepage Tagged With: Greatest Hits, Indian Ranch, lifestyle partnership, Mass, Massachusetts, mjnews, MJNews Network, music and marijuana, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana

MA Cannabis Education Event to Inform and Empower Consumers

April 11, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

MCR Lab’s “What’s In Your Weed: The Educated Consumer” to teach consumers what to look out for when purchasing cannabis.

MASSACHUSETTS:  Local cannabis testing laboratory MCR Labs is hosting a consumer education event aimed at empowering consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their cannabis purchases and consumption choices.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a presentation by MCR’s Vice President of Scientific Development Scott Churchill and InhaleMD’s President & CEO Dr. Jordan Tishler. Dr. Tishler is a Cannabinoid Specialist. 

“There is a lot of speculation out there on terms like ‘Total Active Cannabinoids’ and how factors like shelf life stability affect product quality,” said Churchill. “Our goal here is to help consumers develop a deeper understanding of cannabis so they can choose the right product for themselves.”

MCR Labs provides analytical cannabis testing services to cultivators and product manufacturers. The data produced by these services, such as cannabinoid content, is often advertised on product labels.

“It’s really important that patients understand how compounds like cannabinoids interact with their bodies,” said Dr. Tishler. “This can help them understand their medicine and work with their healthcare professionals to achieve optimal treatment.”

Through his training in Internal Medicine and years of practice as an Emergency Physician, Dr. Tishler brings his knowledge, reason, and caring to patients at inhaleMD, and through his advocacy work at the local and national levels.

“What’s In Your Weed: The Educated Consumer” will be held this Thursday, April 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at District Hall in Boston. Anyone interested in learning more or attending the event can find details on the event website

Filed Under: Events, Homepage Tagged With: 2022 legal cannabis, canna curious, Consumer safety, Dr. Tishler, legal cannabis, MA, mainstreaming marijuana, Massachusetts, MJ Events, mjnews, MJNews Network, normalization, What's in your weed?

Good Feels Launches Cannabis Drinks In Massachusetts

March 8, 2022 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Medway-based company builds brand focused on social equity and sustainability

MASSACHUSETTS: Good Feels, a minority-owned cannabis brand is launching a line of fast-acting cannabis-infused seltzers and beverage enhancers in dispensaries across Massachusetts. The company seeks to bring people together and celebrate life in good health with disruptive, hangover-free alternatives to alcohol. 

Good Feels is releasing four cannabis-infused seltzers (Black Cherry, Raspberry Apple, Blood Orange, Grapefruit) and two beverage enhancers (Lemon-Lime, Flavorless). These fast-acting products provide a manageable experience with zero calories, zero sugar, and are flavored with essential oils extracted from real fruit. Each 12 ounce seltzer bottle contains a 3mg/THC and 2mg/CBD blend. Both beverage enhancers feature 4.5mg/THC and 3mg/CBD per serving (20 servings, 150mg total). All Good Feels products are sustainably manufactured in infinitely recyclable glass bottles within a carbon-neutral facility using 100% renewable energy.

“I started this company because there was no solution to my problem,” said Jason Reposa, founder of Good Feels. “I had to create my own solution. We took an aggressive approach to launch these products as quickly as possible so that people can have access to them. They really are revolutionary in that the innovation didn’t exist so we had to create it. I needed to create something for myself and I knew if I did, others would love it as well.”

In addition to a commitment to quality, Good Feels is reducing barriers for minorities seeking opportunities in cannabis. The Good Feels business structure was designed to support social equity initiatives identified by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. These efforts include hiring preferences for individuals from areas of disproportionate impact or with nonviolent cannabis convictions. Good Feels also purchases 25% of its materials from cannabis businesses with social equity or economic empowerment license types. The founding team has rapidly grown to nine employees and continues expanding to meet demand. Minimum wage starts at $20/hour and employees receive comprehensive benefits to provide a better standard of living for these individuals.

“I’m really proud and thankful for our team,” said Reposa. “This started as a solo journey and picked up quickly with the help of some really great people who helped my vision come alive. I have nothing but pride seeing these individuals come together to successfully guide our launch.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Good Feels at 617-404-0000 or marketing@getgoodfeels.com.

Filed Under: Business, Recreational Tagged With: BIPOC, cannabis beverages, cannabis drinks, cannabis news, Good Feels, legal cannabis, MA, marijuana news, Massachusetts, minority business, mjnews, MJNews Network, social equity, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana

Burns & Levinson Hosts Fifth Annual State of the Cannabis Industry Conference on September 28, 2021

August 31, 2021 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

MASSACHUSETTS: August 31, 2021 – Burns & Levinson will host its fifth annual “State of the Cannabis Industry” conference, which will focus on critical issues in the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry, on September 28, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. The conference will be held in person at the Westin Waltham Boston, and all attendees, speakers and staff must provide proof of vaccination. A live stream option will also be available.

 

The conference will feature an interview with Commissioner Steven Hoffman, Chairman of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, in an exclusive one-on-one Q&A with Frank A. Segall, founder and Chair of the Cannabis Business & Law Advisory Group at Burns & Levinson.

The expert panels and Q&A sessions will tackle a wide range of issues impacting the cannabis industry, including regulatory and legislative issues, capital markets, M&A and investments, e-commerce strategies and opportunities, and trends and developments in the marketplace.

“When we launched our conference five years ago, it was the first event of its kind with a specific focus on showcasing cannabis industry pioneers and sharing their experiences and expertise with our audience. It has since grown to attract industry leaders from all segments of the cannabis industry, including major capital market sources who are helping to fuel its growth. The conference has become a best-in-class forum and networking event, and we are excited and honored to be regarded by our industry peers as one of the leading law firms in the nation at the forefront of what comes next,” said Segall.

“We love bringing people together at this conference to make connections, develop partnerships and learn from their peers and industry leaders. We are especially looking forward to gathering safely in person, after being all virtual last year,” added Scott Moskol, who founded and chairs Burns & Levinson’s Cannabis Business & Law Advisory Group with Segall.

The current conference sponsors include: CohnReznick, HUB International, Cannabis Co-Op Fund L.P., KreditForce, KindTap, Opus Consulting, Douglas Washing and Sanitizing Systems, Emerald Media Group, Needham Bank, AdaptiveHR, Agrify, Elevate Northeast, FlowerHire, Lighthouse Biz Solutions, LLC, and Young America Capital.

Burns & Levinson was the first major Boston corporate law firm to develop a cannabis business practice, and has been advising cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs and investors across the country for nearly a decade. The firm has unrivaled experience in cannabis and hemp/CBD business formation and corporate structuring, private placements, venture capital, M&A, securities, banking issues, fund formation, debt and equity financing, restructuring and receiverships, real estate acquisitions and leasing, intellectual property protection, 280E taxation issues, and cannabis litigation.

The firm is well-known for its role in the cannabis banking industry and has worked with multiple financial institutions to establish a framework that allows them to accept cannabis-derived deposits. Burns & Levinson is currently working with regulated financial institutions and non-regulated private funds to set up first-of-their-kind cannabis lending programs. The firm is also among the top law firms in the country handling M&A and high-level corporate and financing deals in the private and public markets in the cannabis market.

For more information about the conference and to register, click here. For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kristen Weller at kweller@burnslev.com.

 

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Burns & Levinson, cannabis and the law, cannabis industry event, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commision, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, MJ Events, mjlegal, MJlegal news, mjnews, MJNews Network, September 2021, State of the Cannabis Industry 2021

4Front Ventures To Open Third Dispensary In Massachusetts

August 16, 2021 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

PHOENIX, August 16, 2021 – 4Front Ventures Corp., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, announced it has received its commencement letter from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”), which will enable the Company to open its third dispensary in the commonwealth.

Mission Brookline will initially begin serving adults 21 years and older in the Allston Innovation Corridor, a vibrant community within the wider Boston University and Boston metropolitan area, via online appointments and in-store pickup on Saturday, August 21st at 10 am. Located  at 1024 Commonwealth Ave. in Brookline in Norfolk County, the Company’s new storefront is located in one of the largest towns in New England that is also a highly desirable place to live, due to its proximity to job opportunities, public transportation, school systems, and livable neighborhoods that balance green space, historic preservation and outstanding commercial services.

“We want to thank the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for awarding us final approval of our third dispensary in the commonwealth,” said Derek Stewart, Vice President of Retail Operations, Mission Dispensaries, Massachusetts. “We look forward to serving this vibrant community from our new storefront in Brookline, which is surrounded by the City of Boston on three sides and located in a mature suburban, residential community with urban characteristics. We also believe Mission Brookline will help us accelerate our growth as we continue to bring our high standards, low-cost cultivation and production methodologies and build out our capabilities in Massachusetts in the year ahead.”

Upon opening Mission Brookline will offer its existing suite of products such as Funky Monkey™, Legends™, Marmas™, Crystal Clear™ and Hi-Burst™, which have been widely embraced in Massachusetts, Washington and Illinois. The new storefront will also carry a full line of consumer-demanded flower, extracts, edibles, vaporizers, cartridges, batteries, ancillary products and merchandise. Mission’s expertly trained staff will also be available to ensure an informative, welcoming and inclusive experience for all consumers.

Having previously received approval for medical and adult-use cannabis sales at its Mission facilities in Georgetown, 4Front already has a strong foothold in Massachusetts. 4Front’s Mission Worcester dispensary, along with the Company’s cultivation/processing facilities in Worcester, Massachusetts, were also granted authorization to commence adult-use retail and production operations in September 2020.

Filed Under: Business, Dispensaries, Homepage Tagged With: 4Front Ventures, cannabis industry news, dispensaries, Massachusetts, Mission Brookline, Mission Worcester, MJBiz, mjnews, MJNews Network, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana

Kaycha Announces Three New Labs In Massachusetts, Nevada & Oregon

February 16, 2021 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

With locations across the U.S., Kaycha Labs is establishing a national network of Cannabis and Hemp labs that provides essential product quality and safety information

FLORIDA: Kaycha Labs, a leader in Cannabis and Hemp testing technologies and methods, is adding three new states to its national network of labs. The company’s nine labs are in California, Colorado, Florida (Fort Lauderdale/Davie and Gainesville), Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee.

In recent weeks, Kaycha has acquired Evio Labs in Medford, Oregon, signed a definitive agreement to acquire DB Labs in anticipation of Clark County and Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board approvals, and received a provisional license to open and operate a lab in Natick, Massachusetts. Both the Oregon and Nevada labs were early entrants to their respective markets; Evio Labs Medford commenced operations in 2014 and DB Labs was organized in 2014 and operates its ~11,500-square-foot lab several blocks away from the Las Vegas Strip. The Massachusetts lab is a new build and is strategically located in Natick near major interstate highways within a couple hours driving time to all major customers.

James Horvath, CEO of Kaycha Labs, commented, “We know that the Cannabis industry is rapidly consolidating and that national Cannabis companies are working hard to build national brands. As they grow, we appreciate that there is a need for a testing partner who can provide and apply a uniform and consistent process.  Furthermore, all Kaycha labs will be equipped with back-up instrumentation so that client testing is not interrupted by an outage.” Chris Martinez, Kaycha Labs’ President, added, “We know clients value quality testing, fast turnaround times, and attractive pricing. And by adding to our network, we will be achieving even more scale, which will allow us to continue to lower our cost structure and pass these savings along to our clients.”

Filed Under: Homepage Tagged With: cannabis, Florida, Hemp, lab, Massachusetts, mjnews, MJNews Network, mjnewsnetwork.com, Nevada, Oregon, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana, the business of testing

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Approves Final Adult Use, Medical Use of Marijuana Regulations and Rescinds Colocated Regulations

November 30, 2020 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

MASSACHUSETTS: The Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) today approved new medical- and adult-use regulations and phased out 935 CMR 502, Colocated Adult-Use and Medical-Use Marijuana Operations, after bringing sufficient parity to the medical- and adult-use regulations.

“I’m excited that the revised medical- and adult-use regulatory revisions poise the Commission to make significant progress in our mission and statutory mandates on equity, patient access, and public health and safety,” Chairman Steven J. Hoffman said. “While we’ve made tremendous headway over the past three years, we now turn to critical work to implement new provisions, including; the increased caregiver/patient ratio, development of guidance documents, rollout of the Delivery Operator application, and a host of provisions establishing a more equitable and safe industry.”

In the coming weeks, the final regulations will be filed with the Secretary of State’s Regulation Division for promulgation and published on the Commission’s website.

Approved policies include:

Medical Use of Marijuana Program

  • Optimizing Patient access and preserving public safety by:
    • Allowing Caregivers to care for up to five Patients with a Canopy not in excess of 500 square feet;
    • Clarifying that Caregivers may seek a waiver to care for more than five Patients but cannot exceed the 500-square-foot limitation;
    • Preventing perceived risk of diversion by requiring Caregivers to create a log-of-growing and make that log available to the Commission upon request;
    • Broadening the types of physicians who can serve as the second physician making the recommendation for pediatric patients;
    • Requiring Certifying Health Care Providers (Providers) to have a plan to provide discounts to low-income Patients;
    • Allowing Patients with certain hardships to renew every two years instead of one year;
    • Permitting Patients to cultivate up to 12 flowering plants without hardship cultivation, and if more are needed, requiring hardship cultivation;
    • Allowing certain out-of-state Patients to be certified and registered as a Patient in Massachusetts; and
    • Restricting Caregivers from participating in paid advertising.

Equity Programming

  • Promoting a more inclusive and diverse industry by:
    • Waiving all Delivery application and license fees for Certified Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants (EEA) and Social Equity Program (SEP) participants in their first year of licensure under the exclusivity period;
    • Reducing annual license fees by 50%, or to $2,500, for EEAs and SEP participants upon renewal and all subsequent years for applicants;
    • Expanding SEP eligibility to certain categories of individuals and EEAs;
    • Requiring majority ownership by SEP participants in order to access license-related benefits, and potentially expanding these program benefits to microbusinesses and minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses; and
    • Clarifying that individuals who are EEAs, whether on their own or as part of a business entity, can apply as part of a new entity with EEA status so long as it continues to meet three or more of the six criteria, at least one of which shall be a majority-equity-ownership criterion.

Delivery

  • Increasing adult-use access and evolving the Delivery license type by:
    • Approving the Delivery Operator license type, which allows licensees to purchase wholesale Finished Marijuana Products with stringent requirements to warehouse;
    • Clarifying the statutory allowance of up to three Retail licenses and the regulatory allowance of up to a combined total of two Marijuana Courier and/or Delivery Operator licenses;
    • Extending the initial exclusivity period to three-years;
    • Allowing Third-Party Technology Platform Providers to contract with an unlimited number of Delivery Licensees;
    • Authorizing Delivery Operator Licensees to white label, or affix a product label that includes the branding (name and logo) of a specific Marijuana Establishment (ME) to a finished marijuana product that was previously produced and packaged by a licensed Product Manufacturer, Cultivator, Microbusiness, or Craft Marijuana Cooperative for sale to consumers;
    • Allowing Delivery Licensees to sell marijuana accessories and ME-branded goods and non-edible items directly to consumers; and
    • Automatically converting existing Pre-Certified “Delivery-Only” applicants to Delivery Courier Applicants.

Ownership & Control

  • Tightening stringent ownership and control measures further by:
    • Requiring EEAs to report to the Commission all changes of ownership and control and upon renewal and certifying to the Commission that the requisite ownership and control has been maintained by the requisite class of people identified on the EEA’s certification;
    • Preventing monopolies with the addition of safeguards between Third-Party Technology Platforms and Delivery Licensees by explicitly prohibiting:
      • monopolization or attempts at monopolization;
      • inducements;
      • direct or indirect investments from Third-Party Technology Platforms; and
      • restricting determinations of product and licensee placement on an app to objective, customer-oriented criteria.
    • Updating the definition of Persons or Entities with Direct Control by encompassing the equivalent of a Director in a business entity such as a Limited Liability Company, which has Managers in lieu of a Board of Directors, and setting a specific dollar amount with respect to what the Commission considers “significant contracts;” and
    • Confirming that EEAs hold majority ownership (51% or more) over the license to maintain priority status.

Product Database

  • Ensuring that the public is knowledgeable of the hallmarks of legally sourced products, preventing underage access, and lowering the risk of purchasing illicit products by adopting a requirement that Marijuana Establishments, including Delivery Operators, and MTCs comply with the Product Database requirement, just as adult-use licensees must.

Advertising and Branding

  • Modifying advertising and branding regulations by:
    • Allowing of branding sponsorships at certain events, with continued prohibitions on activities that target underage participants or entrants; and
    • Approving targeted advertising through mechanisms such as geofencing, provided they retain documentation of audience composition data related to these marketing activities.

Testing

  • Increasing testing accountability for licencees by:
    • Allowing marijuana products that fail initial contaminant screens to be:
      • Reanalyzed;
      • Remediated and retested by at least the original Independent Testing Laboratory, and a different Independent Testing Laboratory; or
      • Licensees may attempt remediation of a batch that has failed a second test prior to disposal or destruction.
    • Adding new pesticides to the list of pesticides currently required of Independent Testing Laboratory protocols; and
    • Requiring continued testing for vitamin E acetate and a secondary screen for heavy metals from finished vapes.

Video recordings of the Commission’s previous policy discussions and public hearings regarding the new regulations are available on Facebook and YouTube.

Filed Under: Homepage, Legal Tagged With: 2020 MA regulations, adult use, adult-use cannabis, Cannabis Control Commission, delivery, legalization, MA, Massachusetts, medical marijuana, MJ Legal News, MJ News Network, mjnews, mjnewsnetwork.com, social equity, testing, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana

Massachusetts Marijuana Retailers Surpass $1 Billion In Gross Sales

November 4, 2020 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Milestone reached nearly two years after adult-use sales started in Massachusetts; progress continues to achieve industry goals

MASSACHUSETTS: Adult-use Marijuana Retailers in Massachusetts have now tallied more than $1 billion in gross sales, according to information reported in the state’s mandatory seed-to-sale tracking system, the Cannabis Control Commission announced Tuesday.

At close of business on Friday, October 30, aggregate data recorded in Metrc by 80 Marijuana Retailers operating statewide reached $1,000,521,905, coming nearly two years after the first two adult-use stores on the East Coast opened their doors November 20, 2018.

“This sales milestone represents licensees’ ability to successfully support a safe, accessible, and effective adult-use industry, and I am pleased the resulting tax benefits will have a significant impact on communities throughout the Commonwealth,” Commission Chairman Steven J. Hoffman said. “These numbers also speak to Commission licensing and enforcement staff working around the clock to make sure these businesses and their products comply with all of our regulations, especially the health and safety provisions. Each year, as this marketplace matures, the public will continue to see progress on state mandates and Commission objectives, including our commitment to equity, and the steps we have taken in 2020 are evidence of that.”

Source: Cannabis Control Commission’s Open Data Platform

Over the first year of adult-use sales, from November 2018 to November 2019, 33 Marijuana Retailers generated $393.7 million in gross sales, before licensees ultimately tallied $444.9 million for the full calendar year of 2019.

Since January 1, 2020, Marijuana Establishments have already surpassed those figures, generating $539 million in gross sales despite two months of closures as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency in Massachusetts. During the pandemic, the Commission has implemented numerous protocols, including social distancing requirements, sanitation measures, and curbside service at licensed locations throughout the state that put first the health and safety of employees, patients, and consumers, while also supporting Marijuana Establishments’ ongoing operations. Read more at MassCannabisControl.com/COVID19.

Licensing, Agents, and Equity

Since Massachusetts’ first two Marijuana Retailers opened in 2018, 82 more have received notices from the Commission to commence operations statewide and are in the process of opening. Another 201 Marijuana Retailers with provisional or final license approval are completing the Commission’s inspection and compliance procedures towards that end.

In total, the Commission has licensed 688 Marijuana Establishments, including Cultivators, Product Manufacturers, Independent Testing Laboratories, Microbusinesses, and more. Currently, 40 Cultivators are open for business, with the capacity to grow up to a maximum of 1.26 million square feet of canopy in the Commonwealth.

The Commission is also in the process of finalizing changes to its adult-use regulations that will support home delivery of marijuana and marijuana products, after launching the initial license applications for adult-use Delivery-Only operators in May. To further the agency’s mission of ensuring industry participation by communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition, the evolving Marijuana Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator license types will be exclusively available to certified Economic Empowerment Applicants (EEAs) and Social Equity Program (SEP) Participants for a minimum of three years. So far, the Commission has issued two Delivery-Only—or Marijuana Courier—licenses to such applicants and pre-certified 47 more who are interested in offering delivery services in Massachusetts.

To date, two EEA licensees, two SEP licensees, and five Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) – or state-certified minority-, woman-, or veteran-owned companies – have opened. Additionally, the Commission has issued provisional licenses to 14 more EEAs, 21 more SEP Participants, and 87 DBEs that represent they have attended the state’s Supplier Diversity Office class and received expedited review from the Commission. Another four provisional licenses have gone to applicants who maintain both EEA status and participate in SEP, while seven more provisional licenses have gone to SEP Participants who are also DBE certified.

As of October, across all categories of licenses, the adult-use cannabis industry in Massachusetts consists of nearly 10,300 active Marijuana Establishment Agent registrations, up from 6,700 in November 2019. Of those, approximately 33 percent identify as female and 66 percent identify as male, while 74.2 percent of registered and proposed agents identify as White, 6.7 percent identify as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish, and 5.9 percent identify as Black or African American.

This spring, the Commission’s first cohort of 143 SEP Participants received technical assistance and training across four teaching tracks. For the second cohort, 285 applicants qualified and now have access to technical assistance and training that started in July and continues through this winter. Participants who are approved for the program based on three criteria receive automatic program benefits, such as expedited application review by the Commission’s licensing team, certain fee waivers, and exclusive access to license types such as the Marijuana Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator licenses.

Public Health, Safety, and Research

Throughout 2020, the Commission has continued to lead on initiatives that prioritize the public health and safety of Massachusetts residents and increase patient and consumer awareness. As part of its multimillion-dollar campaign, More About Marijuana, which has traditionally focused on responsible use and preventing youth access, the Commission has incorporated new educational materials about the dangers of home manufacturing, COVID-19 safety tips for cannabis consumers, and the risks of vaping, in response to statutory requirements and recent health emergencies.

The Commission issued three industrywide emergency orders over the past year in response to reported occurrences of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) in the Commonwealth and across the nation. Staff also surveyed licensees to understand the ingredients and sources of additives used in licensed products, published multiple sets of testing results pertaining to regulated vapes—effectively clearing their use of Vitamin E acetate—and issued new packaging, labeling, and testing requirements, including the testing of finished vaping products to protect consumers against hazardous additives and contaminants. This summer, the Commission’s Second Amended Quarantine Order Applying to Vaporizer Products provided several options for licensees to address previously quarantined products manufactured prior to December 12, 2019:

  • Voluntarily disposing of vaporizer products;
  • Releasing vaporizer products from quarantine for sale if first retested or remediated; or
  • Repurposing quarantined vaporizer products into other marijuana products after reclaiming marijuana oil from the quarantined product.

The Commission continues to develop a product database that will enable law enforcement, state and local officials, such as school administrators, and parents, to determine whether products that may be illegally diverted into the hands of youth and/or the public came from a licensed source or the illicit market.

Finally, the Commission released five comprehensive research reports in the past year which focus on youth usage, preliminary industry assessment, the impact of legalization, the state of the data, and the effectiveness of the Commission’s public awareness campaign. Work is underway to conduct a baseline assessment of impacts to the healthcare system, adult-use cannabis behaviors, the utility in using public safety data to assess social equity provisions, legal and illicit market cannabis use behaviors, cannabis-related disciplinary actions in schools, as well as continuing the primary collected surveys included in the Marijuana Baseline Health Study.

Additional information about the Commission’s sales, licensing, and equity data is available by visiting MassCannabisControl.Com, by contacting the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.Com), or following the agency on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Business, Dispensaries Tagged With: $1 Billion, adult-use cannabis, cannabis industry news, COVID19 and Cannabis, legal marijuana, MA, marijuana retailers, Mass, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, mjnews, mjnewsnetwork.com, mmj, New England cannabis, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana, the business of medical marijuana

MCR Labs ‘Ask An Expert’ Virtual Event Seeks To Clear Up Mass. Cannabis Confusion

October 23, 2020 by MJ News Network Leave a Comment

Cannabis experts will weigh in on questions submitted by members of the general public as part of a virtual panel discussion hosted by MCR Labs on October 28.

MASSACHUSETTS:  MCR Labs is organizing a virtual panel discussion for members of the public to submit cannabis-related questions to four experts with backgrounds in cannabis testing, research, medicine, and cultivation in order to help new and experienced cannabis consumers expand their knowledge of a complex and often misunderstood plant.

“Even though it’s legal here in Massachusetts, cannabis is still scary and confusing to some and complicated or overwhelming to others,” said MCR Labs President and founder Michael Kahn. “We’re trying to create more opportunities for everyone to get real answers from legitimate sources since there’s still a lot of misinformation being spread about cannabis and marijuana.”

The virtual event, titled “Ask an Expert,” will feature qualified cannabis professionals from a variety of fields and specialties. The panel discussion will include Scott Churchill, Director of Scientific Operations at MCR Labs, a cannabis testing laboratory; Dr. Marion McNabb, President of the Cannabis Center of Excellence, a research and advocacy group; Dr. Benjamin Caplan, Chief Medical Officer at the CED Clinic, a medical cannabis clinic; and Noni Goldman, Co-Founder of Four Trees Management Co., a consulting firm and tier 1 cultivation provisional licensee.

By bringing together experts with a diverse array of backgrounds, the MCR Labs’ outreach team hopes to enable a broad selection of individuals with any level of cannabis knowledge to hear answers to questions ranging from highly complex to basic and introductory.

“COVID-19 has created a significant lack of educational events geared toward cannabis at the same time that many are exploring using, growing, or even joining the industry for the first time,” said MCR Labs Event & Outreach Specialist Melissa Kenton. “So, we’re trying something new for us by hosting this online event because no matter what’s happening with the virus, education is critical to helping people explore cannabis safely.”

The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 28 starting at 11 a.m. Attendees can register in advance at https://tinyurl.com/MCRLabsAskExpertEvent. Those with questions for the panel can submit them via any of MCR Labs social media accounts by messaging @mcrlabs on most platforms or by emailing the outreach team directly at news@mcrlabs.com.

Filed Under: Events, Homepage Tagged With: cannabis business news, cannabis event, Cannabis labs, COVID-19 and legal cannabis, lab, Mass, Massachusetts, MCR Labs, mjevents, mjnews, mjnewsnetwork.com, the business of cannabis, the business of marijuana

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