After two years of closed-door meetings and nearly $160,000, the Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday released a draft of its new governance charter that could refine the structure of the embattled agency — weeks after it was placed under the threat of state receivership.
The charter aims to clarify the chain of command at the agency that regulates Massachusetts’ burgeoning $7 billion cannabis industry and define the roles of its executive director, chair, and five commissioners.
Critics have repeatedly blamed the overlap in responsibilities among the CCC’s top jobs for pushing the agency to dysfunction at the expense of cannabis entrepreneurs and consumers. After considerable turmoil in recent months, it is without a permanent executive director, chair, or fifth commissioner.
Acting chair Ava Callender Concepcion said on Thursday the charter will serve as a “tool and guideline, not only for the current iteration of commissioners, but commissioners that follow.”
Commission Bruce Stebbins added that it is a much-needed anchor for the agency, seven years after its inception. Per the current draft, the charter will be revisited for review every five years. [Read More @ The Boston Globe]