Cannabis Commission Could Vote on Social Consumption Rules by Christmas
The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) could vote by Christmas on regulations for social consumption sites, according to CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien. During a meeting on Friday, Nov. 7, O’Brien provided…
(Photo Kael Alford/Getty Images)
The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) could vote by Christmas on regulations for social consumption sites, according to CCC Chair Shannon O'Brien.
During a meeting on Friday, Nov. 7, O'Brien provided an update on the timeline and announced that a new member, Carrie Benedon, would be joining the CCC to fill a seat focused on issues related to a regulated industry. Benedon brings expertise from the Attorney General's Division of Open Government to the CCC in filling the seat vacated by Nurys Camargo.
Under state law, the three statewide officials appoint two of the five CCC commissioners by majority vote. Benedon was chosen to fill a seat designated for someone with “legal, policy, or social justice issues related to a regulated industry.”
According to a Sentinel & Enterprise report, the CCC has outlined three license types for social consumption:
- On-site consumption at existing marijuana establishments
- A hospitality license for on-site use at non-cannabis venues like yoga studios or theaters
- An event organizer license for temporary on-site consumption at events
Social consumption sites were envisioned under the 2016 voter law, but they have not yet launched.
A possible vote on the social consumption sites was on the agenda for the Nov. 7 meeting, but Commissioner Bruce Stebbins told the media after the meeting that Benedon's start date had delayed the timeline. Earlier this year, in September, O'Brien's return to the CCC pushed back finalization of the much-anticipated rules.
Stebbins said that additional meetings could be scheduled before the year's end. The next commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18.
“[I] really hope that we can get this done by Christmas,” he said. He noted that the commission is now focused on the specifics. “What you see us doing is getting down into some real granular questions,” he said in a statement shared with the Sentinel & Enterprise, “as much clarity as we can offer on those helps our licensees at the end of the day.”
