Have you been following the madness? As more than a few people predicted would happen, certain influential members of the Mass political establishment continue to insert themselves in a regulatory process that they should be watching from the sidelines. It’s a bipartisan affair, this meddling. From Governor Charlie Baker to House Speaker Bob DeLeo, the subterfuge is thick. As one advocate put it in front of the State House yesterday (watch the video above), it’s ironic that the pols who once claimed to fear the impact of Big Cannabis in Mass are now working to help behemoths corner the market.
What a week …
THE GRAY AREA
The Summit Lounge, private club to allow marijuana smoking, ‘exploited a loophole’ in law (MassLive)
THE NONSENSE
Gov. Charlie Baker balks at pot delivery, cafe concepts (Boston Herald)
THE GOSSIP
Remy Ma’s husband once gave her Louis Vuitton handbags full of weed (NY Post)
FEATURED
Gimme Shelter: Massachusetts Lawmakers Push to Become a Marijuana Sanctuary State (Entrepreneur)
Speaker DeLeo Joins Governor In Cautioning Regulators To Slow Down (WBUR)
Democrat Joe Kennedy has a pot problem (New Republic)
Top Lawmakers Say Cannabis Commission Is Moving Too Fast (CBS Boston/WBZ)
Prosecutors Ask Pot Regulators to Hold off on Cannabis Cafes (U.S. News & World Report)
Gov. Charlie Baker balks at pot delivery, cafe concepts (Boston Herald)
Baker administration: Pot panel should narrow focus to retail market (Worcester Telegram)
Keep it simple, Baker urges pot panel (Patriot Ledger)
Baker’s comment on Cannabis Control Commission triggers backlash (Salem News)
Protections urged for role of small-scale pot growers (Worcester Telegram)
Lighting up the elders (The Jewish Standard)
Massachusetts Marijuana Panel Urged to Keep Draft Regulations Simple (Cannabis Business Times)
Warning of high power costs of marijuana, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration … (MassLive)
Immediately allowing marijuana cafes and theaters is ‘irresponsible’ and ‘dangerous … (MassLive)
Editorial: ‘Simpler is better’ on pot law rollout (Boston Herald)
Prosecutors ask Massachusetts marijuana regulators to hold off on cannabis cafes, home delivery (The Cannabist)
DAs Ask Pot Regulators to Nix ‘Cannabis Cafes’ (U.S. News & World Report)
Expungement and Past Marijuana Convictions in Legal States: What Now?(Marijuana.com)
No dopes: Lobbyists cash in peddling influence on state policy (Boston Herald)
Cannabis Control Commission Seeks Public Input On Regulations (Weed News)
Loophole could allow private hangouts anywhere (Boston Herald)
NCIA Announces Boston As New Location For Seed To Sale Show (Weed News )
Pot commission facing big test as draft regs hit turbulence (Lowell Sun)
Budget ‘Certainty,’ Mass. Senate Stability, Energy Use On Pot Farms: The Week Ahead On Beacon … (New England Public Radio)
Pot licenses could be rolled out on timeline (Wicked Local North of Boston)
Gov. Charlie Baker Urges Pot Regulators to Go Slow on ‘Cannabis Cafes’ (NBC Boston)
Health is latest wing of Baker admin to urge slower marijuana rollout (Boston Business Journal)
Pot licenses could be rolled out on timeline, CCC chairman says (Gloucester Daily Times)
Marijuana cultivation needs energy regulations, letter states (Daily Free Press)
Athol
Voters will consider marijuana bylaw (Athol Daily News)
Editorial: Recreational pot — Go slow, take your time and think of farmers and youth (Athol Daily News)
Buckland
State senator says Massachusetts farmers should be allowed to grow marijuana as cash crop (MassLive)
Dartmouth
Cannabis Control Commission visits UMass Dartmouth (SouthCoastToday)
Easthampton
With ‘mind-blowing talent,’ INSA medical marijuana facility opens in Easthampton (photos, video) (MassLive)
2nd western Mass medical dispensary now open in Easthampton (wwlp)
Framingham
Framingham considers recreational cannabis ‘task force’ (Wicked Local Framingham)
Fairhaven
To toke or not to toke: communities struggle with marijuana regulations (SouthCoastToday)
Hull
Hull residents split on marijuana decision(Wicked Local)
Martha’s Vineyard
Hearing on Marijuana Regulations Attracts Scant Crowd (Vineyard Gazette)
Mashpee
Newly Built Marijuana Dispensary Damaged By Fire (CBS Boston / WBZ)
Fire damages medical marijuana dispensary in Mashpee (Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News)
Firefighters Battle Cape Cod Marijuana Dispensary Blaze (NBC Boston (blog))
MA Firefighters Respond to Fire at Marijuana Dispensary (Firehouse.com)
Medway
Should Medway ban the sale of recreational marijuana? (Boston Globe)
Newton
Newton Officials Propose Moratorium On Recreational Pot Shops (Patch)
Northampton
Northampton lawmakers announce upcoming public meetings on local retail marijuana regulations (MassLive)
Palmer
Police: Assailant killed during apparent home invasion (My Fox Boston)
Plymouth
Triple M medical marijuana dispensary opens Thursday (Wicked Local)
Sudbury
Can I Have A Pot Farm In My Yard? Sudbury Forum On Marijuana (Patch)
Taunton
Cannabis Commission chair talks pot at Taunton Chamber annual meeting(Taunton Daily Gazette)
Cannabis commissioner seeks ‘safe, sensible’ regulations (Taunton Daily Gazette)
Topsfield
Topsfield public forum tackles recreational marijuana (Wicked Local North of Boston)
Revere
Councillor Pushes for Marijuana Fee (Revere Journal)
Wareham
Weeding through Wareham’s marijuana regulations (Wareham Week)
Wareham Planning Board receives support for marijuana regulations(Wareham Week)
Weymouth
Hearing set on nonmedical marijuana ban (Boston Globe)
Worcester
Worcester claims marijuana club misled city officials (Worcester Business Journal)
Up in smoke: Private pot club opens in metro Boston (KFDA)
At new private club ‘The Summit Lounge’ in Worcester, members will be able to smoke marijuana …(MassLive.com)
Members-only marijuana lounge opens in Worcester (Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News)
Weed lounge open to ‘smoke anything’ (Boston Herald)
State Police arrested Worcester man for unlawful gun, marijuana (MassLive)
The Summit Lounge, private club to allow marijuana smoking, ‘exploited a loophole’ in law, city … (MassLive)
CONNECTICUT
Police seize $300000 worth of marijuana during drug bust (WHDH 7News)
MAINE
Maine daycare workers think a parent brought them pot cookies (WHDH 7News)
NEW JERSEY
Towns should act to block legal marijuana (MyCentralJersey.com)