(BOSTON 9/18/2023) — In light of mounting reports of scandal and dysfunction at the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), five members of the Massachusetts Legislature today sent a letter to the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy requesting an oversight hearing to bring better transparency and accountability to the agency. The effort, led by Senator Michael Moore, comes after the Chair of the CCC described the agency as “in crisis.”

The letter, signed by three Senators and two Representatives, asks for an oversight hearing that addresses seven primary points of dysfunction at the CCC:

Suspension of Chair O’Brien; State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg suspended CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien, according to media reports. The Treasurer’s Office has so far declined to explain the suspension or name an interim chair.
Ongoing Governance Issues; the CCC has been engaged in a series of closed-door mediation sessions over its governance structure since April 2022.
Licensing Delays; opaque and lengthy licensing processes have become a frequent complaint to legislators’ offices.
Extended and Overly Aggressive Investigations; investigators from the CCC have been criticized for operating in an overly aggressive and unproductive manner during site visits, with little communication to business owners about their investigation status or findings.
Inadvertent Records Release; in spring 2023, the CCC allegedly shared a document containing the names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and other sensitive personal information of every cannabis worker, active or inactive, in Massachusetts.
Alleged Retaliation Against an Independent Journalist; CCC officials allegedly cited the content of a journalist’s testimony before the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy as part of the justification for stripping the journalist of their press credentials.
Sex Offenders as Retail and Delivery Operator Agents; following the passage of legislation in 2022, the CCC has proposed allowing registered sex offenders to become retail and delivery operators in the cannabis industry, positions that will allow them access to sensitive customer information.

“Since its creation in 2017, The Cannabis Control Commission has faced what sometimes feels like an endless stream of scandals. The public deserves some accountability on why these issues have proven so hard to stamp out, and what long-term changes the agency is making to get its work done with more transparency and efficiency,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Especially considering the 23% funding increase the CCC requested during FY24 budget negotiations, it is now more critical than ever that we make sure this agency has a plan to right the ship. Millions of our tax dollars are at stake – I am hopeful the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy will schedule a hearing to get answers from the top brass at the CCC.”

In addition to issues described in the letter, Senator Moore’s office has received reports of a hostile work environment at the CCC. His office has referred these complaints to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the State Auditor.

The letter also brings a spotlight to legislation currently before the Committee that would create an internal special audit unit within the CCC. If passed, the legislation would delegate oversight responsibilities to an audit unit within, but not subject to the control of the CCC. This form of oversight is modeled after existing internal audit units within MassDOT, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the State Police.

The letter is addressed to Senator Adam Gomez and Representative Daniel Donahue, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy.

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