WORCESTER, Mass. - In an effort to better serve businesses and customers of the marijuana industry, the Cannabis Control Commission is proposing a number of regulatory changes.

Commissioner Kim Roy discussed some of them recently while speaking to a group of senior citizens in Charlton.

It's part of her effort to answer questions people may have about the industry.

The proposed changes include allowing microbusinesses licensees to be eligible to apply for and hold additional licenses and license types, expanding operations for home delivery businesses, and updating patients' access to medical marijuana.

"During COVID, the commission allowed for telehealth visit for the first medical visit, and that was an exception during COVID,” said Roy. “But now we've heard from patients, and we've heard from stakeholders all across the Commonwealth that this really removed barriers to access where you can from the comforts of your home, be able to do that first visit via telehealth. So, we're going to make that permanent as well. We're also going to allow for nurse practitioners who had to be under a physician, under a prescribing physician, now nurse practitioners will be able to be on their own and if they're certified by the commission, they'll be able to recommend or prescribe cannabis, if you will."

The commission is holding a public hearing on Oct. 7 at its headquarters at Worcester’s Union Station to discuss the proposed regulatory changes.