By Michael P. Norton and Sam Drysdale
State House News Service

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission could vote by Christmas on regulations governing social consumption sites.

Commission chairman Shannon O'Brien offered the latest timeline at the end of a meeting on Friday, as commissioners also learned that a new member, Carrie Benedon, is joining the commission.

Commissioners in late July outlined three social consumption license types: bone for existing marijuana establishments like retail stores and cultivation facilities that want to offer their customers the ability to consume products purchased on-site; a "hospitality" license category that would allow for on-site consumption at new or existing non-cannabis businesses like yoga studios or theaters; and an "event organizer" license category that would allow for temporary on-site consumption at events like rallies and festivals.

Social consumption sites were envisioned in the law legalizing recreational marijuana that voters approved in 2016 but have yet to launch. 

Benedon works in Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office as director of the Division of Open Government. She previously worked as an assistant attorney general in the Constitutional and Administrative Law Division. Prior to the creation of the state's Cannabis Control Commission, she "successfully represented the Department of Public Health in several cases challenging its medical marijuana registration and licensing authority," Campbell's office said.

Under state law, the governor, state attorney general, and state treasurer each appoint one member of the state's Cannabis Control Commission, and the three statewide officeholders also appoint two of the five Cannabis Control Commission members together by majority vote. Benedon was selected to fill a seat designated for someone with "legal, policy, or social justice issues related to a regulated industry." Benedon will fill the seat vacated by Nurys Camargo. 

A possible vote on the social consumption sites was on the agenda for the commission's meeting on Friday, November 7, but commissioner Bruce Stebbins told reporters after the meeting that Benedon's start date delayed the timeline. Earlier this year in September, O'Brien's return to the Cannabis Control Commission, after a long court fight with the state treasurer, pushed back the finalization of the long-awaited rules.

"We want to give her the opportunity to get caught up to speed on the [social consumption] regulations and be part of the conversation, so that will obviously shift our timeline," Stebbins said of Benedon on Friday, November 7.

He also suggested additional meetings could be scheduled before the end of the year. The next commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18.

"[I] really hope that we can get this done by Christmas," he said. He added that the commission is now focused on fine details: "What you see us doing is getting down into some real granular questions … as much clarity as we can offer on those helps our licensees at the end of the day."

Asked what people should make of the delays, Stebbins said he "completely understands" why O'Brien pushed back the finalization in September and why they are now waiting for Benedon to get up to speed.

"We want their input. We want their voice. We want to hear their concerns, because we are rolling this out on behalf of the entire commission, and we want to make sure everybody feels comfortable with the regulatory framework," he said.

The state Cannabis Control Commission has been operating with three members of its five-member body for months, as a seat has been empty and member Ava Callender Concepcion has been on leave. That has made it more difficult for the current commission, which requires unanimous 3-0 votes to advance proposals, because a minimum of three votes are needed. With Benedon joining, commission members may have more flexibility, though two-two ties remain possible.