Conference Committee Convenes to Reconcile Cannabis Reform Bills
The Massachusetts Legislature today convened the first meeting of the bicameral conference committee charged with reconciling the differences between Senate Bill 2749 and House Bill 4206, two major proposals aimed at reforming the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws.
State Senator Adam Gómez (D–Springfield) will serve as the Senate Chair of the conference committee, working alongside Representative Daniel Donahue (D–Worcester), who will chair on behalf of the House. Gomez and Donahue currently serve as the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy and will lead negotiations for their respective chambers.
The conference committee also includes:
Senator Joanne Comerford (D–Florence) – Senate conferee
Senator Peter Durant (R–Spencer) – Senate conferee
Representative Carlos González (D–Springfield) – House negotiator
Representative Michael Soter (R–Bellingham) – House negotiator
Senator Gómez emphasized the importance of a collaborative, transparent process as the committee begins its work. He had this to say on the committee convening today and the work ahead, “As we begin this work, my priority is ensuring that Massachusetts’ cannabis framework continues to advance real social equity. Our communities fought hard for a system that creates opportunity, repairs harm and opens doors for people who were disproportionately impacted by past enforcement. Any reform we pass must strengthen—not weaken—those commitments. I’m looking forward to a collaborative process that delivers a fair, transparent, and equitable path forward for the Commonwealth.”
While both chambers agree on the need to update the state’s cannabis laws, several important differences must be reconciled before a final bill can advance. The committee will work to align the two bills’ differing approaches to restructuring the Cannabis Control Commission, updating regulatory oversight, and modernizing aspects of the state’s cannabis framework while increasing legal possession limits from one ounce to two ounces in public, and from ten ounces to twenty ounces at home.
The committee’s work comes as the CCC recently approved regulations for social consumption sites, set to take effect January 2, requiring municipalities to opt in and establish local rules. A proposed ballot initiative seeking to repeal adult-use legalization is also advancing through the certification.
The committee will continue meeting over the coming weeks as members work toward a final compromise bill for consideration by both chambers.