When Massachusetts voters acted to pass marijuana legalization back in November, the Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy was formed to help usher in the ever evolving cannabis climate. The committee, chaired by Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Rep. Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), is tasked with transforming a piece of legislature into a functional and regulated marijuana market in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Beginning on Monday, the Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy began hearing all of the cannabis-related bills designated to them — nearly 40 in total. The expansive list of proposed bills covers a wide range of topics, from driving under the influence of cannabis to how much retail shops will have to pay in taxes.
We’ve compiled a list of all the bills being heard by the Joint Committee this week including brief descriptions detailing what the bill would mean for citizens of Massachusetts, if passed.
Bill S.1059
This bill deals directly with the court’s ability to allow past marijuana use as evidence in a criminal or civil case. One interesting inclusion in the language of this bill is that “evidence of prior use or possession of marijuana by any…