Cannabis Control Commission monitors products that might appeal to children



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Massachusetts regulators want to keep a close eye on the types of marijuana products that will be sold to adults once marijuana retailers are open and if these products could appeal to children, a concern raised by a plaintiff on Thursday who was trying to make marijuana cakes.

The Cannabis Control Commission decided Thursday to start compiling a database of edible marijuana products approved for sale in Massachusetts so that regulators, consumers, parents, and the forces of marijuana can learn about it. order may have a better idea of ​​the type of product available.

"We are seeing more and more products available," said Commissioner Britte McBride, "I think that starting to collect a database of these products, what they look like … I think it will probably be a useful tool for us, but it will also be a useful tool for other law enforcement agencies, as we believe we are making sure we prevent the diversion of children. "

The CCC Regulation prohibits consumer products that come in the form "distinct from a human being, from an animal or from a fruit, or … of a form. that looks like that of a man, animal or fruit realistic or fictitious, including artistic, cartoon, or cartoon designs "in order to block products that might please to children.

At the CCC meeting, Thursday's meeting of the CCC raised concerns about a proposal from Ashli's Extract, LLC, based in Attleborough, to manufacture a series of products and services. marijuana-infused food products, including cookies, lemon squares and more specifically lollipops.

McBride stated that the frozen cakes had caught her attention and that she was wondering how it would be done to comply with the CCC regulations and how the mandatory CCC symbols indicating that the product contained marijuana could be affixed above.

"I can say that, literally, the only people I have ever seen with a cake in my life are my 8 year olds and my 5 year old," McBride said.

Commissioner Shaleen Title said, "When I heard about cakes, and probably from all of us who have young children, it made us think."

Shawn Collins, Executive Director of CCC, stated that any marijuana product to be sold must first be connected to METRC, the seed tracking system up to the sale, so the METRC system will also work as a database of products sold in Massachusetts.

The Commissioners stated that businesses wishing to obtain a marijuana license from CCC should be aware that CCC will closely examine lists of edible products or other marijuana products.

"The general tone is that we really want to allow the commercialization of cannabis while preventing diversion," said Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan. "I think the database would be useful not only for us, but also for the public, so that it can see the products that are on our shelves."

The commission approved Ashli's Extract LLC's provisional license application and Collins told the commissioners that he and the CCC staff would continue to submit to the commission similar applications for an interim license in order to "d & # 39; To have an idea of ​​the level of comfort and to know where we should dig further. "

During the inspection that occurs for each temporary licensed business, CCC staff will inspect any products that the company plans to sell and the commission could deny the company the opportunity to sell any product that CCC considers to be in non-compliance with its regulations.

The CCC approved on Thursday 10 other provisional licenses: for Ashli's Farm, Inc., up to 30,000 square feet of marijuana, for Ashli's Inc., to operate a retail store in Attleborough , for Gibby's Garden, LLC, to reach 5,000 square feet of marijuana and marijuana products in Uxbridge, for Green Biz Inc. to operate a retail store in Pittsfield, for Sanctuary Medicinals, Inc. ., to grow up to 40,000 square feet of marijuana and make them in Littleton, for Temescal Wellness of Massachusetts, Inc., grow up to 10,000 square feet of marijuana and manufacture marijuana products in Worcester, and for Theory Wellness, Inc., up to 5,000 square feet of marijuana and produce marijuana products in Bridgewater.

Each of these provisional licenses is subject to the company paying the license fee, passing an inspection of the CCC, being granted a final license by the CCC, respecting all the conditions attached to the final license, and then is notified by CCC to begin to fully carry out its activities. .

The Commission also approved Thursday six so-called definitive licenses, although companies with final approval are not allowed to start non-medical sales.

New England Treatment Access has been approved for two final licenses for its facility at 5 Forge Parkway in Franklin, one for marijuana cultivation up to 50,000 square feet and the other for the production of marijuana products. Sira Naturals has obtained three final licenses at its facilities located at 13 Commercial Way in Milford – one to grow up to 20,000 square feet of marijuana, produce marijuana products and transport it to other businesses authorized.

CCC also granted a final license to Pharmacannis Massachusetts, Inc. for the operation of a retail store at 112 Main Street in Wareham. Pharmacannis Massachusetts is the third retailer to receive a final license from CCC – joining NETA's premises in Northampton and Cultivate in Leicester. Although they have received so-called definitive licenses, none of the companies can start selling non-medical products until the CCC has given notice that it is going into full business.

Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of marijuana at the polls two years ago, but the marijuana market for non-medical purposes has not yet materialized. CCC had hoped to launch legal sales before July 1, but it did not achieve this goal. Since then, CCC President Steven Hoffman had termed the start of legal sales as "late summer / early fall," but licensees said this week that they did not expect to be allowed to open before a few weeks.

Since December 2016, it is legal for adults to use, own and grow marijuana in Massachusetts.

For more information on the sector, join WBUR's Facebook group, Green Rush: Cannabis in Massachusetts.

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