Massachusetts S 2722: Amendment S.2722

Bill Text

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2722

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________

SENATE, November 13, 2025.
The committee on Senate Ways and Means to whom was referred the House Bill
modernizing the commonwealth’s cannabis laws (House, No. 4206); reports, recommending that
the same ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting
in place thereof the text of Senate document numbered 2722.

For the committee,
Michael J. Rodrigues

1 of 22
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2722

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________

1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2 section:-
3 Section 223. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts cannabis control commission, which shall
4 consist of 2 commissioners appointed by the governor, 1 of whom the governor shall designate
5 as chair, and 1 commissioner appointed by the attorney general. The commissioners shall devote
6 their full time and attention to the duties of the office. The governor shall appoint commissioners
7 with experience or expertise in any of the following areas: public health, public safety, the
8 regulation and business of consumer commodities or the production and distribution of
9 marijuana and marijuana products. The attorney general shall appoint a commissioner with a
10 background in social justice issues related to the cannabis industry. Prior to appointment to the
11 commission, a background investigation shall be conducted into the financial stability, integrity,
12 potential conflicts of interest and responsibility of a candidate, including the candidate’s
13 reputation for good character and honesty. No person convicted of a felony shall be eligible to
14 serve on the commission.
15 (b) Each commissioner shall be a resident of the commonwealth within 90 days of
16 appointment and, while serving on the commission, shall not: (i) hold, or be a candidate for,

2 of 22
17 federal, state or local elected office; (ii) hold an appointed office in a federal, state or local
18 government; or (iii) serve as an official in a political party. Not more than 2 commissioners shall
19 be from the same political party.
20 (c) The commissioner designated by the governor as chair shall serve a term coterminous
21 with the governor. The 2 remaining commissioners shall each serve for a term of 4 years or until
22 a successor is appointed. Each commissioner shall be eligible for reappointment. A person
23 appointed to fill a vacancy during the term of a commissioner shall be appointed in the manner
24 provided under this section and shall serve for the unexpired term of that commissioner.
25 (d) Each commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
26 (e) Two commissioners shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of 2
27 commissioners shall be required for an action of the commission. The chair or 2 commissioners
28 may call a meeting; provided, however, that notice of all meetings shall be given to each
29 commissioner and to other persons who request such notice. The commission shall adopt
30 regulations establishing procedures, which may include electronic communications, by which a
31 request to receive notice shall be made and the method by which timely notice may be given.
32 (f) The chair shall receive a salary equal to the salary of the secretary of administration
33 and finance under section 4 of chapter 7. The 2 remaining commissioners shall receive a salary
34 equal to 75 per cent of the salary of the secretary of administration and finance under said section
35 4 of said chapter 7.
36 (g)(1) The chair shall preside at all meetings or hearings at which the chair is present and
37 shall designate a commissioner to act as chair in the chair’s absence. The chair may, as

3 of 22
38 necessary, assign or reassign responsibilities among the commissioners to ensure the efficient
39 administration of the commission
40 (2) The chair shall not participate in or supervise any investigation, inspection, audit,
41 enforcement action or other fact-gathering activity that may be subject to adjudication before the
42 commission.
43 (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair the obligation of the chair or
44 any commissioner to act impartially in any adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to
45 chapter 30A.
46 (4) When presiding over or participating in an adjudicatory proceeding, the chair shall be
47 subject to all duties, standards and prohibitions applicable to presiding officers pursuant to
48 chapter 30A.
49 (h) The commissioners shall, if so directed by the chair, participate in the hearing and
50 decision of any matter before the commission. Any matter may be heard, examined and
51 investigated by an employee of the commission designated and assigned b