The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is nearing a vote on long-awaited draft regulations for social consumption – an important step for the state’s cannabis industry.  With recent changes to our statute in 2022, we now have the tools and chance to realize new market opportunities envisioned by advocates for legalization.

The state’s regulated cannabis market and adults who are ages 21 and older have been getting ready for social consumption for years, but we know not all Massachusetts residents are comfortable with the idea of patrons consuming cannabis on-site at establishments and at events across the Commonwealth. That’s why the Commission has spent the last few months poring over every detail of these regulations to ensure that public health and safety come first.

Social consumption isn’t just an aspect of legal cannabis that voters approved, it’s also one of the last areas of the legacy market still thriving in the state. If you have ever come across someone consuming cannabis in public, that’s what these regulations will help to address. We know social consumption is already happening in the Commonwealth and these new regulations may cut down on illegal use by creating licensed venues subject to health and safety protocols.

So, what exactly will the Commission do to make sure social consumption businesses operate safely? After countless meetings with municipal leaders, law enforcement officials, industry stakeholders, and colleagues from other jurisdictions with social consumption in place, we have landed on requiring thoughtful safeguards for each licensee, including:

No licensed social consumption business will be allowed to serve alcohol or tobacco;

Employees at social consumption locations will have to take dedicated training to recognize drug and alcohol impairment;

Licensees will also be required to help customers “cool down” if they consume too much or have an adverse reaction;

Sales of cannabis products must cease 30 minutes before the business’ closing time;

Licensees will need to make food and non-alcoholic beverages available because some research has shown that consuming food and cannabis may mitigate the intoxicating effects;

All licensees will have to have an approved transportation plan to assist impaired customers;

Businesses must comply with strong ventilation requirements where cannabis will be smoked, plus personal protective equipment requested by any employee;

Product menus will list estimated onset times to prevent overuse; and

As usual, strict ID policies will be enforced to prevent anyone under age 21 from consuming.

State law also ensures that cities and towns across the state will get to opt-in to allowing social consumption. Municipalities will make this decision for themselves through a ballot referendum or a municipal by-law or ordinance change.  We hope cities and towns will consider welcoming these new businesses with the safeguards we’re planning to put in place.

And there’s still more to come. As we undertake the process of finalizing these regulations, the Commission is looking for input from consumers, businesses, municipal leaders, health and safety officials, and people who may have voted either for or against legalizing adult-use cannabis. We concluded an informal public comment period in January, but will be scheduling a formal public hearing and comment period on the draft regulations soon.

After working on this issue with former commissioner Nurys Camargo, our team, and the many stakeholders we have engaged, I know Massachusetts is ready for the next phase of regulated cannabis and to be a leader in operating safe social consumption venues on the East Coast. The Commission has demonstrated its ability to regulate the existing industry – with more than 700 businesses and counting that have been approved to operate – by recalling unsafe products, fining licensees that flout regulations, and issuing safety bulletins  to protect industry employees.

On-site social consumption is ongoing in other states with adult-use cannabis, and we see this as the natural progression for Massachusetts’ effectively regulated industry. Social consumption will help reduce lingering stigma around adult consumption in social settings, create alternatives to illegal consumption in public, and open added pathways for entrepreneurs to take part in our $8 billion industry for the first time.

Bruce Stebbins is Acting Chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission