Worcester Business Journal

20 Worcester Business Journal | September 22, 2025 | wbjournal.com Mass. surpassed by other states While they exist in other countries including Jamaica and e Nether- lands, Massachusetts was the first state to include the concept of social consumption licenses in its adult-use cannabis laws. However, due to a number of unex- pected hurdles, the state has yet to roll out these types of business almost nine years aer voters first approved them. While CCC is supposed to be an independent agency, then-Gov. Charlie Baker and then-Attorney General Maura Healey (now the governor) put their thumbs on the scale in 2018 when they strongly suggested CCC focus its limited resources on getting cultivation and dispensaries business open rather than cannabis cafes. CCC complied with this request. en, a draing error in state law meant there was no way for munici- palities who were interested in hosting social consumption sites to opt-in to do so. is was fixed by the state legis- lature in 2022. CCC had previously considered F O C U S DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION Active cannabis licenses in Mass. When social consumption businesses come online, they'll join nearly 700 other active cannabis businesses in the state. # of License type active licenses Retailer 395 Cultivator 124 Product manufacturer 108 Delivery operator license 17 Transportation-related licenses 17 Microbusiness* 13 Independent testing laboratory 10 TOTAL 684 * = A co-located business that can be either a small mari- juana cultivator, product manufacturer, or both. Source: Cannabis Control Commission Sept. 11 meeting packet A gathering place for MARIJUANA BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Managing Editor A s Massachusetts ap- proaches a decade since recreational cannabis was first legalized, marijuana businesses are a common sight. But with public consumption still banned, consumers have been le to enjoy these now-legal products in private settings or while nervously looking over their shoulder in public. at could soon change. While it was part of the original legalization pitch in 2016, the state is now working to finalize regulations to govern social consumption sites. Commonly referred to as cannabis cafes, these venues would operate much like bars, but with the alcohol replaced with marijuana products. Plans call for social consumption licenses for the first 60 months for a select group of pre-existing business licenseholders and participants in the state's Social Equity Program partici- pants and Certified Economic Empow- erment Priority applicants, both part of wider efforts to promote business growth in disadvantaged communities and make up for harms caused by the state's War on Drugs, which dispropor- tionately targeted minority popula- tions. Law enforcement and some mu- nicipal voices have called for strict regulations for consumption sites. But advocates warn overregulating these businesses will make them stiff and sterile, killing their viability and leaving social equity participants out in the cold. With a final vote on regulations expected this fall, Cannabis Control Commission regulators will have to walk a fine line to appease all stake- holders involved, ensuring businesses will be both safe and viable, while providing meaningful opportunity for disadvantaged groups who are still looking for a path into the cannabis industry. Designed as a way to help more people from dis- advantaged populations open businesses, cannabis cafes are close to becoming a reality, although the finances for success are difficult launching a limit- ed pilot program to allow for can- nabis cafes in up to 12 communi- ties, but regulators decided to scrap that plan in 2023, instead shiing focus to a full rollout. By then, scrapping the pilot program made sense, as a number of other states with legalized recre- ational marijuana had already moved forward with allowing for consumption sites. Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 12 states allow social con- sumption in some capacity, according to CannaBusinessPlans.com. One of these states is New Mexico, where Marvina omas opened the Fourt- wenty Collections Dispensary and Consumption Lounge in the city of Las Cruces. "I founded the first Black, wom- an-owned dispensary in Arizona," Marvina omas wrote in an email to WBJ. "As we looked to expand, we fell in love with Las Cruces and started a dispensary there. We knew that a can- nabis business could be an important part of the community if done right. When the opportunity presented itself for us to acquire a building zoned for a consumption lounge, we took the leap." Realizing her business had to be more than just a place to sit around and smoke marijuana, omas' lounge includes a restaurant and has become a go-to place for local organizations to host events, she wrote. "We have positioned our consump- tion lounge as a community center and gathering place," omas wrote. "We have everything from business meet- ings and student study groups hap- Four entrepreneurs with ties to the Fitchburg area are looking to rehab the former site of a bowling alley into a performance venue and cafe, which will allow for cannabis use: (from left) Matthew Boone, John Quartarone, Guy Gormley, and Mat Meadows. Marvina Thomas, owner of Fourtwenty Collections in New Mexico

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