Some Massachusetts towns push back on cannabis lounges
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Some local government officials want state regulators to pump the brakes on cannabis lounges in Massachusetts.
Why it matters: The backlash to cannabis in lounges, yoga sessions and cooking classes — forming more than two years after lawmakers legalized creating these spaces — could create hurdles for business owners and customers who want safe spaces to consume cannabis.
Catch up quick: State regulators proposed three license types for these spaces: a "supplemental" license for existing retailers, a "hospitality" license that allow consumption at yoga studios or similar places, and an "event organizer" license for festivals and other gatherings.
Driving the news: Local health officials raised questions about what the regulations could mean for towns, especially those that don't want cannabis lounges or events at all in their communities, according to public comments reviewed by Axios.
🗣️ MaryAnn O'Connor, director of the Medford Board of Health, asked regulators not to allow onsite cannabis spaces or events, arguing it would threaten public safety and health.
🚘 Two officials within the Franklin Regional Council of Governments in Western Massachusetts asked how law enforcement would spot drivers who are high at traffic stops and whether cannabis lounge servers would be liable for letting those drivers leave.
- They also asked "what recourse exists" for locals who oppose having cannabis lounges in town.
💨 Maureen Buzby, Melrose's tobacco inspector coordinator, said she didn't believe air filtration systems could prevent secondhand smoke exposure for people who share a building with a cannabis lounge.
Other Melrose officials did not comment on the drafted regulations.
- Thomas Dalton, a spokesperson for the city, said Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis and other officials plan to review the regulations once they're approved.
- Officials from Medford and other cities did not respond to requests for comment.
The other side: Medical patients and adult-use customers say they have been waiting for years for a space to smoke or consume cannabis outside of their homes.
- Tori Gates, who works in the industry and uses cannabis medically, said renters like her might not have the option to smoke, vape or bake with cannabis in their units, making it difficult to consume cannabis in a safe environment.
- The alternative for many, she says, is to smoke in areas they shouldn't, like parks, parking lots or in a stationary vehicle.
Reality check: Cannabis lounges are legal under Massachusetts law, and state regulators haven't expressed any interest in abandoning plans to set up the social consumption industry here.
What's next: State regulators are editing the proposed regulations and meeting with officials across state and local governments.
- They could host a discussion about the regulations as early as March 27.