Massachusetts Ready to Talk About Weed Lounge Rules March 27
Next week, state officials will show their first draft of rules for places where people can smoke marijuana together. The Cannabis Control Commission will talk about everything March 27.
Commissioner Nurys Camargo told NBC Boston that they updated the rules after talking with cops, state organizations, and local officials.
The state’s creating three types of licenses. Current pot shops can add smoking areas with a special permit. Bars and cafes could sell weed with special business licenses. Event planners can get their own permits for temporary events.
Officials start visiting cities April 2. They’ll begin in Holyoke, then go to Springfield, Boston, and Somerville.
Smoking lounges were included in the original 2016 law that made weed legal in Massachusetts. The state held off on these plans while getting regular stores up and running.
These places will be like regular bars – just with weed instead of alcohol. This gives tourists and renters who can’t smoke at home or in hotels somewhere to go.
They should finish making the rules by mid-2025. After that, each town needs to make its own laws to let these businesses open up.
The state plans to tell people about these new spots through advertising and community outreach, similar to what they did before stores opened in 2018.
For the first five years, only certain groups can open these businesses – social equity applicants, small businesses, and craft cooperatives get first chance.
People can share their thoughts about the draft rules during town halls and meetings. Their feedback will help create the final version.