Bill > S91

This bill establishes a temporary moratorium on issuing new marijuana business licenses in Massachusetts, with specific exceptions. The Cannabis Control Commission will be prohibited from granting new licenses for marijuana retailers, cultivators, and product manufacturers for 180 days after publishing a mandated study, with two key exceptions: licenses for entities that submitted complete applications before the bill's effective date and participants in the social equity or economic empowerment program. The commission must conduct or commission an economic analysis study examining the appropriate number of cannabis licenses, the balance between cannabis supply and market demand, and the effectiveness of the commission's regulatory enforcement. The study must be initiated within 30 days of the bill's passage, published on the commission's website, and submitted to the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy. While the moratorium prevents most new licenses, it explicitly allows social consumption licenses to continue being issued. The entire moratorium cannot exceed one year from the bill's effective date, ensuring a time-limited pause in licensing to allow for comprehensive market analysis and potential policy adjustments in the cannabis industry.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S91