Massachusetts’ lately returned hashish czar pledged Wednesday to “restore belief” with operators within the state’s $1.6 billion adult-use marijuana market.
Shannon O’Brien, reinstalled as chairperson of the state Hashish Management Fee (CCC) final month after a yearslong authorized and political ordeal, additionally vowed to chop “pointless regulatory burdens” for Massachusetts hashish shops.
“We should stability robust client protections with a regulatory framework that doesn’t impose extreme prices on accountable enterprise homeowners,” O’Brien stated in a press release Wednesday.
Based on the CCC, O’Brien will:
- Scale back “pointless regulatory burdens” for hashish retailers.
- Beef up oversight of the state’s business hashish testing labs.
- Enhance the state social fairness program.
Precise particulars had been scant. The CCC didn’t instantly reply to an MJBizDaily request for extra info.
O’Brien acknowledges hurdles
However O’Brien appeared to acknowledge dissatisfaction when she straight addressed Massachusetts hashish license holders throughout the CCC’s public assembly Wednesday.
“You’ve got confronted super hurdles,” she stated, in accordance with a gathering recording.
“Regardless of challenges, you could have continued to construct companies that create jobs, generate income and repair communities throughout the Commonwealth.”
She added that the CCC has “the possibility to construct bridges and restore belief and give attention to options that strengthen each the Commonwealth and the hashish trade.”
Among the many peculiar hurdles for hashish companies in Massachusetts are divisive host neighborhood agreements, during which a municipality expenses a retailer charges typically ranging within the six figures.
Audits, expenses and delays
Controversy and scandal have visited Massachusetts hashish recently, together with:
Appointed CCC chair in September 2022, O’Brien was suspended a 12 months later and finally faraway from her position in 2024 by State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.
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O’Brien responded with litigation, and final month, a choose ordered her reinstated with again pay and advantages.
She has two years left in her time period as chair.
