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  • Lawmakers will hear testimony on proposed changes to state cannabis laws – The Cannabist

    Lawmakers will hear testimony on proposed changes to state cannabis laws – The Cannabist

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    State lawmakers have scheduled a hearing later this month to kick start an effort to update the laws directing the embattled Cannabis Control Commission after more than a year of turbulence.

    The Bay State’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy has scheduled an informational hearing for Wednesday, October 30, over “reconsideration” of the law which created both the state’s bustling marijuana industry and the CCC, responsible for the day-to-day business of regulating Massachusetts’ largest cash crop.

    “The Committee will be inviting various Massachusetts cannabis industry stakeholders to testify. Of chief concern are the matters of responsibility for agency operations and proper channels of accountability within the agency structure,” the committee wrote in announcing the hearing.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Editorial: Trump & Harris want weed legalized, ignore downside – The Cannabist

    Editorial: Trump & Harris want weed legalized, ignore downside – The Cannabist

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    Legalizing marijuana isn’t as hot-button an issue in this election as abortion or immigration, but both presidential candidates former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have weighed in, and for once, they’re in agreement.

    Both, however, are missing a big point.

    Last month, Trump posted on the Truth Social platform: “As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use. We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product. As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November. As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state authorized companies, and supporting states rights to pass marijuana laws, like in Florida, that work so well for their citizens.”

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • US health authorities need to play a larger role in cannabis policy, a new report says – The Cannabist

    US health authorities need to play a larger role in cannabis policy, a new report says – The Cannabist

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    By CARLA K. JOHNSON

    With more Americans using ever-stronger marijuana, a federal advisory panel is calling for a public health approach that’s a big departure from “Just Say No.”

    Thursday’s report proposes a health-focused strategy with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention taking a larger role in cannabis policy than ever before.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Lucas: Pot board skunked at the top – The Cannabist

    Lucas: Pot board skunked at the top – The Cannabist

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    Reefer madness has broken out at the State House.

    And unless something is done to contain it, the madness is likely to spread from the office of State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, where it originated, to other parts of the building.

    Once latent, there are fears that if the madness over marijuana spreads, people in the building could soon be forced to wear masks again, like they did during Covid-19, or get high from the fumes.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Ousted Shannon O’Brien vows legal battle over pot board firing – The Cannabist

    Ousted Shannon O’Brien vows legal battle over pot board firing – The Cannabist

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    Shannon O’Brien plans to appeal her firing as the chairwoman of the Cannabis Control Commission directly to the Supreme Judicial Court, her lawyer said Tuesday, and one of her former CCC colleagues will take over as acting chair in the meantime.

    Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired O’Brien on Monday, citing unspecified “gross misconduct.” On

    Tuesday, she announced that she had chosen Commissioner Bruce Stebbins to serve as acting chair of the CCC until a more permanent chairperson can be hired. The treasurer said the former gaming regulator, business development official, city councilor and White House aide “will ensure stability during this period and will continue to positively impact the important mission of the CCC.”

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Trying to expand a cannabis business, surrounded by moratoriums – The Cannabist

    Trying to expand a cannabis business, surrounded by moratoriums – The Cannabist

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    Christopher Vondracek | (TNS) The Minnesota Star Tribune

    CROOKSTON, Minnesota — In a former cellphone store at the Canna Corners operation on Main Street, customers came in and out on a summer afternoon — a young man in sandals and backpack, a retiree in a veteran’s cap.

    “My wife takes half a gummy every day before bedtime. It helps her sleep,” said Mike Lafrance, noting his wife suffers from autoimmune complications. “For me? I drink Miller.”

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  • 5 beer ingredients that are banned in the United States – The Cannabist

    5 beer ingredients that are banned in the United States – The Cannabist

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    When River North Brewery founder Matt Hess first discovered amburana wood, he immediately wanted to use it in a recipe. The wood, which comes from trees native to South America, offers a distinct profile with spicy notes of cinnamon. Hess thought it would aptly complement one of the brewery’s signature high-alcohol beers.

    After receiving some amburana samples, Hess’ team made an imperial saison aged on amburana wood spirals. It turned out well enough that River North decided to enter the beer into the 2023 Great American Beer Festival competition.

    However, the Brewers Association, which organizes the event, derailed those plans.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Goldberg fires O’Brien from top pot job – The Cannabist

    Goldberg fires O’Brien from top pot job – The Cannabist

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    Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O’Brien on Monday, her office confirmed, a removal that seems likely to kick the yearlong drama back into the courts.

    In a statement, Goldberg said she decided to fire O’Brien are carefully considering more than 20 hours of meetings held earlier this year as well as various documents, case law and policies. Goldberg said she fired O’Brien because she “committed gross misconduct and demonstrated she is unable to discharge the powers and duties of a CCC commissioner.”

    “I do so with deep regret because she has a long history of public service, and when appointed I anticipated she would lead the Commission capably and in an appropriate manner,” the treasurer said. “I expect my appointee’s actions to be reflective of the important mission of the CCC and performed in a manner that incorporates the standards of professionalism required in today’s work environment.”

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • 3 Massachusetts men indicted for armed robbery of cash courier transporting $430,000 for marijuana companies – The Cannabist

    3 Massachusetts men indicted for armed robbery of cash courier transporting $430,000 for marijuana companies – The Cannabist

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    Three Bay State men have been federally indicted for the alleged armed robbery of a cash courier who was transporting more than $430,000 for marijuana companies.

    The men — Steven Madison, 38, of Bridgewater; Christopher White, 37, of Raynham; and Quentin McDonald, 25, of Brockton — are accused of robbing the courier at gunpoint in Swansea earlier this year.

    They allegedly zip-tied and pepper sprayed the courier, and then burned the stolen getaway vehicle.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Who are you calling rudderless? Massachusetts cannabis regulator defends work on $7B industry – The Cannabist

    Who are you calling rudderless? Massachusetts cannabis regulator defends work on $7B industry – The Cannabist

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    The agency regulating the marijuana industry is not “rudderless,” according to its acting chairwoman, and continues to work despite assertions that it needs a receiver in order to function.

    “If you paid attention, we’re working. It’s always all hands on deck. We’re continuing to push policies,” Cannabis Control Commission Acting Chair Ava Callender Concepcion told the Herald in a one-on-one interview.

    The legal marijuana industry in Massachusetts made $7 billion in sales last year, and $1 billion of that came back to the Bay State in the form of taxes and fees.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • 3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots – The Cannabist

    3 more states could see marijuana legalization on November ballots – The Cannabist

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    Robbie Sequeira | (TNS) Stateline.org

    Nebraskan Crista Eggers is running up against a July 3 deadline. If she can get at least 87,000 names onto each of two petitions before then, she can put an initiative on the state’s November ballot that would legalize pot for medicinal purposes.

    The petition effort is personal. Her 9-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and severe seizures, and medicinal cannabis can be prescribed to treat such conditions.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Inspector General: ‘Urgent need’ for receiver to run Cannabis Control Commission – The Cannabist

    Inspector General: ‘Urgent need’ for receiver to run Cannabis Control Commission – The Cannabist

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    The Cannabis Control Commission is broken by the law that established it and needs to be placed under the authority of a receiver by the end of July, the Bay State’s Inspector General told legislative leaders in a letter.

    Pointing to numerous problems surrounding the ousted commission chair and challenges with the laws structuring the agency, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro urged House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka to act before the end of this legislative session, after determining that “the agency’s statute lacks a clear leadership hierarchy with defined duties and responsibilities.”

    “I believe the CCC needs immediate clear direction with an accountable hierarchy. In its present state, the CCC lacks such direction. I urge the Legislature to take short-term action by authorizing the appointment of a receiver before the completion of the current formal legislative session on July 31, and long-term action by revisiting the commission structure,” Shapiro wrote.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Another big marijuana bust at Boston Logan airport involving passenger flying to the United Kingdom: Police – The Cannabist

    Another big marijuana bust at Boston Logan airport involving passenger flying to the United Kingdom: Police – The Cannabist

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    While marijuana is legal in the Bay State, it’s still illegal to move massive amounts across state or international lines.

    That’s the message from police after yet another person has been busted for allegedly trying to transport a huge amount of weed through Boston Logan International Airport to the United Kingdom.

    A 19-year-old London woman was arrested after U.S. Customs and Border agents seized about 70 pounds of marijuana before her flight back to the U.K., the Suffolk DA’s office announced on Tuesday. The 70 pounds of pot is worth about $350,000 in the U.K., where marijuana is illegal.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Martha’s Vineyard has a pot problem: There isn’t enough, as Massachusetts officials meet concerned residents – The Cannabist

    Martha’s Vineyard has a pot problem: There isn’t enough, as Massachusetts officials meet concerned residents – The Cannabist

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    By the time this summer ends, tourists, day trippers, and residents living on the island of Martha’s Vineyard may lose access to legal marijuana.

    The Bay State’s Cannabis Control Commission, on Thursday, joined the concerned residents of the island during a meeting held in Oak Bluffs — where they discussed the impending closure of the Vineyard’s only marijuana cultivation facility and the potential for the return of questionable black-market products.

    Marijuana production, possession, and consumption is legal for adults living on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, just as it’s legal for anyone over the age of 21 standing anywhere else in Massachusetts.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Ex-Massachusetts official accused of defrauding investors in his marijuana company – The Cannabist

    Ex-Massachusetts official accused of defrauding investors in his marijuana company – The Cannabist

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    A former Bay State elected official has been busted by the feds for allegedly defrauding investors in his marijuana company.

    Bruce Spinney III, who was previously a chair of the Grafton Select Board, was arrested on Friday by FBI Boston special agents.

    The 49-year-old man was indicted on three counts of wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud investors in his marijuana company, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was also indicted on one count of conducting an unlawful monetary transaction.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Before 420 Fest, Afroman talks cannabis legalization and why Coloradans make him uncomfortable – The Cannabist

    Before 420 Fest, Afroman talks cannabis legalization and why Coloradans make him uncomfortable – The Cannabist

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    Rapper Afroman has performed many shows in Colorado and each time he visits, the people here always seem to make him uncomfortable with how nice they are.

    “One time I was looking for an address and three strangers came from out of nowhere trying to help me find it. I didn’t know if someone was trying to steal my wallet,” he said with a laugh. “I never been uncomfortable with people being nice ’til I got to Colorado. It was giving me the goosebumps.”

    Still, Afroman keeps coming back because of the vibe – “I call it California in the deep freezer,” he said, in large part because of the abundance of weed here.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Ahead of 4/20, Massachusetts cannabis officials remind people making edibles ‘to be careful’ – The Cannabist

    Ahead of 4/20, Massachusetts cannabis officials remind people making edibles ‘to be careful’ – The Cannabist

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    If you’re looking to make some pot brownies at home to celebrate 4/20 this weekend, state cannabis officials want you “to be careful.”

    Ahead of the high holiday on Saturday, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission sent out a reminder to those making edibles.

    “If you are planning to make edibles at home in honor of 4/20 this week, make sure you understand the challenges involved with controlling potency and dosage,” the CCC posted.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • Marijuana rescheduling leaves regulators and sellers cautiously optimistic – The Cannabist

    Marijuana rescheduling leaves regulators and sellers cautiously optimistic – The Cannabist

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    A move by the Biden Administration to change how marijuana is treated by federal authorities was met with cautious approval by Massachusetts state regulators, cannabis sellers, and national marijuana advocates alike.

    The Drug Enforcement Agency will drop marijuana from the list of banned substances found under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, where it currently sits alongside heroin and LSD. It will instead move it to Schedule III, among the likes of Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids. This follows the recommendation of the Department of Health and Human Services

    “Rescheduling cannabis is a monumental step forward for the federal government, one that can open new avenues to research, medical use, and banking for the regulated industries states like Massachusetts have built across the country,” said Ava Callender Concepcion, the acting chair of the Bay State’s Cannabis Control Commission.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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  • $187,000 pot leadership post opens up to nationwide search – The Cannabist

    $187,000 pot leadership post opens up to nationwide search – The Cannabist

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    The continued success of the Bay State’s legal weed business will need a “tough, strategic thinker” to oversee day-to-day administration of the agency in charge of the $7 billion pot industry, according to the Cannabis Control Commission.

    The CCC has begun a nationwide job search for its second Executive Director, the person responsible for “administering and enforcing Massachusetts statutes and regulations regarding the state’s marijuana industry and reports to the five Commissioners who are appointed by the governor, state Treasurer, and Attorney General for expertise in public health, public safety, social justice, regulated industries, and corporate management/finance/securities.”

    The about $187,000 per year job, according to Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, is an “exciting opportunity” for anyone willing to “plan and make difficult decisions to execute the competing priorities of an independent state agency that regulates a still-federally illegal substance.”

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  • Pot boss suspension: Goldberg-O’Brien meetings postponed due to, ‘unforeseen circumstances’ – The Cannabist

    Pot boss suspension: Goldberg-O’Brien meetings postponed due to, ‘unforeseen circumstances’ – The Cannabist

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    The long-awaited meetings between suspended Cannabis Control Commission Chairwoman Shannon O’Brien and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg will not take place as scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, Goldberg’s office said Tuesday afternoon.

    “Chair O’Brien’s attorneys have informed us that due to unforeseen circumstances, they are unable to attend the meetings scheduled for April 10 and 11. They again have requested a postponement and we have agreed,” Goldberg spokesman Andrew Napolitano said in a statement. “We have been attempting to meet with the Chair since September and we hope to avoid further delays in scheduling the meetings.”

    A spokesman for O’Brien was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.

    Read the rest of this story on BostonHerald.com.

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