In an unusually boring September meeting, the few commissioners left punt on big topics and discuss personnel and budget
This month’s meeting of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission featured a surprising lack of fireworks following yet another tumultuous week for the beleaguered agency.
Just days earlier, State Treasurer Deb Goldberg announced that, following a year-long suspension, suspended CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien was officially relieved of her duties, while Commissioner Bruce Stebbins would be taking over as interim chair.
“He was appointed based upon his experience in oversight or industry management, including commodities, production, or distribution in a regulated industry,” Goldberg said in a statement. “I am confident that Commissioner Stebbins will ensure stability during this period and will continue to positively impact the important mission of the CCC.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien is expected to file another lawsuit against Goldberg in protest of her termination.
With all that in the background, the September meeting had an unusually late start time, which compressed what is typically an all-day affair.
Stebbins kicked things off by skipping the customary opening statements in order to save time. The CCC also voted to postpone a discussion on what was listed on the day’s agenda as “advocacy organization outreach regarding license ownership and control.”
The commissioners did not go into details about the issue, but it likely concerns an open letter from a coalition of social equity operators and advocates sent out on Sept. 4, calling for an investigation into alleged violations of the state’s licensing cap by a corporate multi-state operator.
Acting Executive Director Debbie Hilton-Creek gave updates on the commission’s recent battle against vacancies in the agency. On that front, a new director of licensing was named, but the search continues for a new general counsel.
“I know we took a hit in the media about open positions,” said Hilton-Creek, who is also the CCC’s chief people officer. “Unfortunately, sometimes we have turnover. Our turnover is still manageable; however, when someone leaves the agency, we do have to replace them.”
Regarding their biggest hiring task at hand, Hilton-Creek said there are currently 173 applicants to fill the long-vacant role of executive director. A final decision on that top position is expected in October.
Members also discussed a pending budgetary shortfall for the next year, of about $2.8 million. In order to meet that gap, Hilton-Creek suggested looking for grants, renegotiating the CCC’s lease for office space in Boston, and inviting an audit of their operating procedures.
“I am excited about whatever entity wants to audit us,” she said. “If they find that we need to tighten up or improve our processes, I am absolutely open to putting our team out there to welcome those suggestions.”
One audit-like impugnment they can count on is already coming via Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro, who is digging into the commission following his call for an agency takeover, as well as from state lawmakers who say CCC governance is headed for a review in the next legislative session.
In the meantime, the agency announced that it will hold a public listening session in the first week of November to gather feedback about the state’s plan to create an independent testing lab in order to standardize testing methods—another issue they’ve been criticized for mishandling.
Since O’Brien was suspended in September 2023, some meetings have included tension between the remaining commissioners, with several going after the acting chair role, which requires a majority vote from their fellow commissioners.
Shortly after the chair stopped appearing at monthly meetings, commissioners were left having to pick who among them would fill the role—to essentially set the agenda and lead meetings. After multiple failed vote attempts, they finally settled on Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion. Last month, Concepcion went on leave, and the three commissioners who are still around settled on Kimberly Roy taking the temporary lead.
With Goldberg’s announcement, that role now moves to Stebbins. His colleagues publicly applauded the move.
“Having worked alongside Acting Chair Stebbins for the past four years, I am confident he will lead the Commission forward, focusing on forthcoming policy work, as well as upholding the Commission’s commitments to equity and public health and safety for consumers, patients, and licensees,” said Commissioner Nurys Camargo, the only current commissioner who has not served as acting chair in the last year.
“I look forward to working with Acting Chair Stebbins as the Commission continues its role as a regulator of the state’s now $7 billion cannabis industry,” Roy added. “Now more than ever, it is critically important we remain focused and responsive in our policy decisions to help provide positive and meaningful impact in this still emerging and evolving marketplace.”
