New Marijuana Law Delayed by Six Months

Donna Motta December 30, 2016 Comments Off on New Marijuana Law Delayed by Six Months

Even though voters decided during the last election to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker recently signed a law pushing back the schedule for retail marijuana operations in the state by six months.

The law now extends deadlines set when voters approved the legation through a ballot question in November 2016, whereby the “yes” vote was passed with a fifty four (54) percentage count. Soon after lawmakers began expressing interest in altering aspects of the regulatory structure set under the law, and suggesting a need for additional time to do so.

The provisions of the law went into effect on December 15th, allowing possession, use, home-growing, and gifting of marijuana by adults 21 and over which remains unchanged; however, the first retail marijuana licenses now must be issued by July 2018, instead of January 2018.

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg will have until September 1, 2017 to appoint members to a new Cannabis Control Commission, and the commission will have until March 15th, 2018 to have initial regulations in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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