It is unfortunate that the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) postponed its vote a few weeks ago to expand delivery licenses to independent operators. Under the current law, delivery is allowed only for medical marijuana patients. For recreational use, however, delivery must be connected to an existing cannabis business, a la an “uberEats” style courier. This format has had the effect of allowing a few large companies to dominate the market and stifle competition. The proposed expansion would allow two delivery licenses for the recreational use of cannabis. The first would be for marijuana operators who buy products wholesale from growers. The second license would allow the courier to charge a fee to make deliveries from retailers and dispensaries licensed by the state. Both delivery license formats are also reserved explicitly for participants in Massachusetts’ Social Equity or Economic Empowerment programs, designed to allow individuals from communities most harmed by a decades long drug war to benefit from the emergence of the new industry, for a period of three years. On October 20, 2020, the CCC voted in favor of the new rules but a group of lawmakers from the legislature sought and received a delay in implementing the liberalized […]