Massachusetts cannabis regulators urged city and town officials Thursday to keep within the boundaries of state law when negotiating local agreements with recreational marijuana businesses.
The Cannabis Control Commission cited "anecdotal'' evidence of municipalities putting excessive financial demands on companies wishing to locate within their communities, further slowing the already delayed rollout of the state's voter-approved recreational marijuana law.
Retail marijuana stores had been expected to begin opening on July 1 in Massachusetts, but none have so far and it could be at least several more weeks before the first ones begin operating.
Under the law, cities and towns may charge marijuana businesses for reasonably anticipated municipal costs related to such things as increased traffic or police protection. But host community agreements are not allowed to assess fees that exceed 3 percent of the total annual revenues of the business, and not for any longer than five years.
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