“The commission appreciated the serious concerns raised by patients, certifying healthcare providers, adult consumers, and local businesses, who each highlighted the importance of maintaining access to regulated marijuana and marijuana products on the islands,” acting Chair Ava Callender Concepcion stated in a press release, emphasizing that the issue was “a matter of public health, safety, and equity.”
New Requirements for Retailers
Licensed cannabis sellers must submit detailed plans for transporting products to the islands before proceeding. The approval process includes inspecting boats to ensure they are seaworthy.
Islands Shipping Ban Lift : Impact on Local Businesses
Island Times was cut off from the supply chain after the only on-island cultivator, Fine Fettle, announced its shutdown earlier this year. Tim Swain of Vicente LLP, representing the retailers in the lawsuit, hailed the decision as a “big day for the industry in Massachusetts.”
Swain told Law360 that the decision came just in time to save Island Times, which had been closed for a month, and the islands’ legal cannabis market. Island Times reported that it typically collects 40% of its annual revenue during the tourist season from June to August, and closure during this period would have led to insolvency.
Legal Representation
Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard and The Green Lady Dispensary Inc. are represented by Timothy D. Swain, Adam D. Fine, and Margaret Nash of Vicente LLP. The Cannabis Control Commission is represented by Erin E. Fowler of the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts.
