Since the Ordinance Committee last met on 6/27 to discuss the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance, negotiations have continued on a compromise amendment offered by Councillor Simmons on behalf of the Registered Medical Dispensaries (RMDs) to help state-certified Economic Empowerment (EE) applicants seeking to compete on the adult-use retail cannabis market. (Read my prior post on the 6/27 meeting.)
There is a committee report on the Council’s Summer Meeting agenda that recounts the debate on 6/27 over how to further our equity goals. I believe it is procedurally possible that we could vote to ordain an amended version of the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance during our the Summer Meeting on 7/30 without waiting for the additional information requested in the orders that are included in the committee report.
Today (7/29), the RMDs submitted a revised compromise amendment that may be discussed at tomorrow’s Council meeting. I am pasting below a comparison summary sent to the Council by the attorney representing the RMDs:
Original Simmons Compromise Amendment – June 27th
Existing RMDs allowed to convert immediately
Economic Empowerment Funding distributed over 4 years at $5 million
RMDs required to offer training and skills development for EE Applicants
Existing RMDs not required to continue medical marijuana retail establishments
Existing RMDs not required to maintain access to low-revenue medical marijuana treatment
New Compromise Amendment – July 29th
Existing RMDs shall not convert until January 1st, 2020
Economic Empowerment Funding shall be distributed over 2 years at $5 million
Expedites Issuance of Host Community Agreement and Special Permit for all applicants
Existing RMDs required to continue operation of medical marijuana retail establishments
Existing RMDs shall provide and maintain a sufficient quantity and variety for marijuana patients to access medical treatment
Cambridge Economic Empowerment Incubator