WORCESTER, Mass. - Starting a process to establish social consumption sites for cannabis is now on the agenda of the Cannabis Control Commission.

"Cannabis is unique," said CCC Commissioner Kimberly Roy. "It is now the top crop in Massachusetts. It actually outpaces cranberries, but it has different challenges with the federal illegality."

What You Need To Know

  • The Cannabis Control Commission is currently reviewing its regulations and considering policy changes

  • The changes are in response to to recent changes in state law known as Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022: An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry

  • The CCC has highlighted three categories which need to be addressed: Improving clarity with host community agreements, ensuring municipal equality and getting the ball rolling on social consumption

The CCC is tasked with reviewing their policies and has highlighted three categories of interest including improving clarity with host community agreements and ensuring municipal equality, along with looking at social consumption sites.

"We've had these regulations put in place for a number of years now, but there was a technical glitch where communities could not opt-in to become a social consumption site," Roy said. "So, we have a working group now."

Recreational cannabis can be used at the Summit Lounge in Worcester. It's one of few places outside of a residence where consuming cannabis is legal, as there are still no cannabis cafes or social consumption sites in the state. 

"We're a private membership association so, we're technically a nonprofit, a 501 c7 much like the Elks Lodge or VFW and many other fraternal organizations," said Kyle Moon, who serves as clerk on the lounge's board of directors.

Moon said while he’s in favor of social consumption sites, he has some concerns. Current guidelines would prevent smoking indoors, as well as cap customers at 20 milligrams of THC per day.

"The limit per serving should be put in the hands of the person in the establishment, much like we do with bars and restaurants," said Moon.

Moon believes being able to enjoy cannabis in a more public setting is the next step for the industry.

"We've had five years," Moon said. "We walked before we ran. Now we can look back and say there hasn't been this huge negative impact in our communities, right? In a lot of respects, it has provided jobs, it has provided economic opportunities."

The CCC has a working group considering new regulations or amendments to existing regulations in an effort to move social consumption licenses forward.

"The current regulations call for a pilot program," said Roy. "So it sounds like we'll ease into it unless that is changed."