But what it’s nearly certain to do is push back the timetable for opening retail marijuana stores from the beginning of 2018 until the middle of that year.
Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg said earlier this month that State House leaders had discussed delaying parts of the marijuana legislation to "give us more time to fine-tune".
The House and Senate on Wednesday passed a bill (S 2524) that would delay the licensing of retail marijuana outlets by six months, which could push the regulated sale of pot well into 2018.
More than 1.8 million MA residents voted for legal recretional marijuana, compared to about 1.5 million who voted against it. Marijuana possession and home-growing it became legal on December 15; however, it is still illegal to sell it. "Luckily, we are in a position where we can learn from the experiences of other states to implement the most responsible recreational marijuana law in the country".
Among the key deadlines that would be put off six months include the current March 1 deadline for state Treasurer Deb Goldberg to appoint a cannabis control commission to oversee the recreational marijuana market; a September 15 deadline for the commission to approve detailed regulations; an October 1 deadline for accepting applications for retail marijuana outlets, and the January 1, 2018, deadline for licensing the first pot shops. "The delay will allow the committee process to work through the law’s complicated implications and provide a process by which we can strengthen, refine and improve it".
The 12-page ballot question was approved by voters in November.
House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Governor Charlie Baker have both expressed openness to a delay to protect public health and safety.
The study is expected to take 18 months and focus on how legalization will impact health, public safety, and overall usage rates.
Rosenberg and DeLeo said that in the coming weeks they will also set up a Committee on Marijuana comprised of Democrats and Republicans from both branches to work with stakeholders and draft additional legislation to address concerns with the new law.
The move isn’t terribly surprising as leadership has hinted in the past about delays.
Supporters of Yes On 4, the group behind the ballot question that sought to legalize recreational marijuana use in MA, said they were disappointed by the Legislature’s move. "This is not reinventing the wheel".
Residents will have to wait six months in order to purchase recreational marijuana from retail establishments.
The state hadn’t had a great implementation of medical marijuana.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Legislature Delays Marijuana Shops, Deadlines By 6 Months
Author: Abel Norris
Contact: ce@senegal-actu.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Senegal Actu
