Bill > S2823

This bill aims to promote equity in the cannabis industry in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Distributing 1% of sales from social equity business cannabis retailers to the cities/towns where those businesses operate, to help offset local community impacts. 2. Defining a "social equity business" as one with at least 51% ownership by individuals eligible for the social equity program. 3. Establishing a Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund to provide grants and loans to social equity program participants and economic empowerment applicants to encourage their participation in the regulated cannabis industry. 4. Requiring the Cannabis Control Commission to establish procedures and policies to promote and encourage participation in the regulated cannabis industry by individuals from communities disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition. 5. Allowing prior cannabis-related convictions, except for distribution to minors, to not disqualify individuals from employment in the cannabis industry. 6. Creating a special commission to study issues related to drugged driving and the development of reliable testing methods. The bill aims to address past harms and ensure equity in the emerging legal cannabis market in Massachusetts.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy (J), Senate Committee on Ways and Means (S)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S2823