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US: Pot commission puts delivery, cafes on hold Matt Stout Boston Herald Tuesday 27 Feb 2018 State marijuana regulators are tabling plans to allow for home delivery and pot cafes for at least the next year, giving Gov. Charlie Baker and lawmakers the limited rollout they pushed for with legal sales looming in July. The 4-1 vote yesterday to scrap — for now — so-called “social consumption” sites and home delivery came after weeks of blistering criticism from Baker and others, who panned the commission for over-reaching in their draft regulations for the nascent industry. But it came with a caveat. The commission also agreed to set aside the licenses — when they do become available — for small businesses, co-ops of marijuana growers and those with criminal records or from towns and cities with disproportionate drug arrests, a nod to marijuana activists pushing to give the so-called “equity” applicants a leg up. The move was pushed by Commissioner Shaleen Title, a longtime activist before she was named to the board. As part of the twofold decision, the commission agreed to create new regulations for pot cafes and delivery by February 2019. But it also laid bare the tension that’s laced the debate. Steve Hoffman, the commission chairman, bristled at criticisms the commission was getting in over its head, saying he “reject(s) the argument that we can’t do it in time.” “There are a lot of people who would like for this to fail,” Commissioner Britte McBride said during the meeting. “I think I would prefer not to give opportunity to them.” The delay seemed to satisfy Baker, whose office said it was “pleased” it decided to “primarily focus on establishing safe and responsible regulated retail sales.” But others, including the lawmaker who co-chaired the Legislature’s marijuana commission, said the state commission is still ignoring major concerns. “They can write all the regulations they want but they will not have any legal standing with these (social consumption) licenses they issue if they don’t have a vote in that city or town,” said state Rep. Mark Cusack, a Braintree Democrat. He also said the commission is over-selling its charge to give equity applicants a foothold in the industry. “Our constituency here is the people of Massachusetts,” he said of elected officials. “That’s what the commissioners need to understand. Their constituency is the people of Massachusetts, not just activists and industry.” Activists, meanwhile, cheered the decision, even if it comes with the delay. “This delay with protection for small business and equity (applicants) addresses everyone’s concerns,” said Shanel Lindsay, an industry consultant. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2018/02/pot_commission_puts_delivery_cafes_on_hold
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