What's New In Cannabis? MA Official Suspended, Louisiana's Voter Guide, Maine Overhauls MMJ Program

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O'Brien Suspended

Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has suspended Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien, whose appointment she made a year ago. The reasons for the suspension have yet to be disclosed, and it is unclear whether O'Brien will be removed from her CCC position.

O'Brien's suspension includes restrictions on entering CCC offices or performing commission-related work. State law allows the treasurer to remove a commissioner for various reasons, but the law does not directly address commissioner suspensions.

O'Brien's tenure as CCC chair faced challenges, including issues related to her previous ownership stake in a cultivation company and controversy over the executive director's departure announcement, reported WBUR.

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Maine's Medical Cannabis Sector Faces Overhaul Amid Regulatory Changes and Record Sales

Maine's medical cannabis industry, with over $300 million in sales last year, is undergoing significant changes in response to providers leaving the market, driven primarily by legislative adjustments, reported the Press Herald.

The proposed regulations introduce a two-tiered exemplary system for violations, with potential penalties of up to $7,500.

However, some stakeholders, like Mark Barnett of the Maine Craft Cannabis Association, express concern that the rules don't address the existing bureaucratic challenges faced by cannabis businesses.

Patient privacy is also a concern as voluntary registration of growing locations and optional photo additions to registration cards are introduced. Meanwhile, the adult-use cannabis market is snowballing, nearly matching medical sales in July, indicating a shifting industry landscape.

2023 Louisiana Cannabis Policy Voter Guide Released by Marijuana Policy Project

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) has unveiled its 2023 Louisiana Cannabis Policy Voter Guide, aimed at informing Louisiana residents about where candidates and incumbent legislators stand on cannabis-related issues.

MPP distributed surveys to all state office candidates and assessed the voting records of incumbents on nine key bills, resulting in a color-coded scorecard with letter grades.

With Louisiana lacking a ballot initiative process, the outcome of this election will significantly impact the state's cannabis policy, as legalization must navigate through the legislature. Louisiana has witnessed increasing public support for adult-use legalization, with a 2023 Louisiana State University poll indicating 70% approval.

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Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash.