The Legal Joint

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/ma*****na/2019/11/04/federal-grand-jury-investigating-municipal-ma*****na-contracts/fTz2S54H5iiReLuPlOSWaL/story.html?p1=HP_Feed_ContentQuery

Why is U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling seeking documents from cities and towns regarding their community host agreements with potential ma*****na businesses?

Community host agreements, a contract forged between a potential recreational ma*****na business and the town in which they wish to locate, vary from town to town. Ma*****na industry leaders and the Cannabis Control Commission have pointed out that the laws governing such agreements are flawed in several ways. First, local officials often demand more than the amount set by statute from a business, 3% of a company's annual revenue for a maximum of five years. However, the communities believe that the law doesn't prohibit them from asking for additional fees. Second, the large excess payments requested by cities and towns are a major obstacle for small, local and minority run business.

It's likely that the US Attorneys office is seeking to uncover corruption however, such as the case with disgraced Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia who allegedly pressured potential ma*****na businesses to pay him in cash bribes. The Cannabis Control Commission receives complaints daily regarding the community host agreement process and in January, the commission voted to ask the Massachusetts Legislature for clear authority to oversee all such contracts. The federal investigation may invite greater scrutiny of these agreements, although it not likely to change the process until the Massachusetts legislature takes action or grants the commission the authority it has requested.

Federal grand jury investigating municipal ma*****na contracts - The Boston Globe Prosecutors in the office of US Attorney Andrew Lelling have subpoenaed a number of Massachusetts cities and towns, seeking information related to so-called “host community agreements” signed with ma*****na operators.

A Massachusetts Legislative Committee has released a report containing research and recommendations for implementing new procedures for identifying and prosecuting drugged drivers. Other state agencies are calling for an increase in the number of DRE's (drug recognition experts). In general, courts in the Commonwealth have been reluctant to qualify DRE's as "experts" and testimony from DRE's in drugged driving cases is often limited to observations and opinion testimony on whether a person is under the influence of drugs is generally now permitted into evidence.
https://mass-cannabis-control.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SCOUI-Legislative-Report-01.01.18-Final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3HUyl-fCP1m9fRHkKnwtXpeTIXr85J9RRF0u_P-lAhXXWBX6gXzxCJSqE

mass-cannabis-control.com

Recreational Pot is legal in Massachusetts, so why isn't there anyplace to buy it?????

The retail recreational ma*****na business has been delayed significantly from the deadline of July 1 (which was also delayed early on). Below is a link to a map published on the Cannabis Control Commission's website showing where in the state applications for ma*****na related businesses licenses have been received. https://mass-cannabis-control.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/September-20-2018-Map_1200x530_.pdf

To date, no retail ma*****na businesses have opened their doors in the Commonwealth. Also, why is the number of applications in Suffolk County so low compared to the rest of the state counties?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/09/30/boston-inches-forward-with-recreational-ma*****na-permits/JHfu2QWKa0HOusngOlk7AN/story.html

mass-cannabis-control.com

The first adult recreational ma*****na license has just been granted to a cultivator in Milford, Massachusetts. Here's a great article about what to expect and what you can and cannot do with recreational ma*****na in Massachusetts!

21 questions answered about legal ma*****na in Massachusetts - The Boston Globe Get the lowdown on when shops will open, how much pot will cost, where you can legally smoke it, and more FAQs.