Massachusetts hashish regulators but once more delayed long-awaited marijuana consumption lounges on Thursday.
The newest pause in a prolonged course of is the results of Shannon O’Brien’s return as chief of the Massachusetts Hashish Management Fee (CCC), based on State Home Information Service.
In an bulletin Thursday, the CCC postponed to Oct. 23-24 a evaluate of proposed consumption lounge guidelines initially scheduled for early subsequent week.
O’Brien made the choice to delay, a CCC spokesperson instructed State Home Information.
The pause is meant to “help the transition of management and guarantee all commissioners are ready for the ultimate regulatory evaluate of social consumption institutions, agent reform and associated insurance policies.”
Massachusetts hashish consumption lounges delayed once more
It’s not clear when lounges may lastly open after the newest extension of an already prolonged timeline.
Massachusetts hashish regulators canceled a consumption lounge pilot program in 2023.
Final yr, regulators had pledged to finalize guidelines by mid-2025.
Amid all that got here the management controversy.
O’Brien, who was first appointed as CCC chair in September 2022, served for a yr earlier than being suspended and later fired by Treasurer Deborah Goldberg in September 2024.
O’Brien appealed the choice, and earlier this month, a Superior Courtroom choose dominated that Goldberg had unlawfully terminated her.
The courtroom ordered O’Brien’s reinstatement with again pay and affirmed her proper to serve the rest of her time period, which runs by means of Aug. 31, 2027.
Earlier than revisiting social consumption, the CCC will deal with different enterprise in two different public conferences.
Its Oct. 1 assembly will give attention to licensing critiques and approvals, an summary of the fee’s 2025 targets and updates from working teams.
A gathering scheduled for Oct. 9 can even handle licensing critiques and approvals together with coverage discussions.
Hashish consumption lounges have lengthy been seen as the subsequent growth in retail however have had combined leads to different markets.
The primary lounges in New Jersey opened in the summertime to a lot fanfare.
