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Poll results

Federal investigators are looking into host community agreements between Massachusetts cities & towns and marijuana businesses, including deals in Worcester, Uxbridge, Leicester and Boston. In order to obtain their licenses to open, marijuana companies need an HCA, where they agree to a community impact fee covering the costs imposed on the community. The Massachusetts law says this fee cannot be more than 3% of the company's gross sales. However, most HCAs have fees far exceeding 3%. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which regulates the industry, says it does not have the authority to approve or reject the HCAs and has called on the Massachusetts Legislature to fix the law, although proposals to do so have languished in committee.

How should the excessive marijuana community fee issue be addressed?
The Cannabis Control Commission should reject any HCAs requiring more than 3%. (37%, 40 VOTES)
The Massachusetts legislature should write stronger language capping fees at 3%. (42%, 46 VOTES)
The Massachusetts legislature should relax the 3% limit. (21%, 23 VOTES)
Poll Description

Federal investigators are looking into host community agreements between Massachusetts cities & towns and marijuana businesses, including deals in Worcester, Uxbridge, Leicester and Boston. In order to obtain their licenses to open, marijuana companies need an HCA, where they agree to a community impact fee covering the costs imposed on the community. The Massachusetts law says this fee cannot be more than 3% of the company's gross sales. However, most HCAs have fees far exceeding 3%. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which regulates the industry, says it does not have the authority to approve or reject the HCAs and has called on the Massachusetts Legislature to fix the law, although proposals to do so have languished in committee.

  • 109 Votes
  • 4 Comments
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4 Comments

  • Abby Mayou
    November 13, 2019

    If the fee set by the Cannabis Commission is no higher than 3% why should the cannabis business have to pay more? I say impose a very high impact fee on the businesses that sell alcohol. The impact of alcohol is so much greater than any impact of cannabis.

  • James Condon
    November 12, 2019

    It is basically a "sin" tax and if the towns are willing to take in a sin industry, they they should be able to get what they can for hosting the business.

  • November 12, 2019
    Call it whatever you want, this is fundamentally another (local) tax, on top of real estate taxes. At 3% of gross sales, it's a very steep one at that. It does allow some towns that may not want cannabis retailers to discourage them simply by setting very high HCA rates. Retailers would then choose to go elsewhere.
  • November 12, 2019
    My larger concern than these fees are the deals being made between the marijuana business and the town officials. See Fall River. We can't hope all officials will be as foolish as Jasiel Correia. These deals must be made public and part of the record just as any permits to operate are.