Massachusetts is seeing a rise in support that could lead many cities and towns to return millions of dollars in community impact fees to marijuana companies.
The Franklin Observer reports that last week, Caroline’s Cannabis made a $1.2 million settlement with the town of Uxbridge. This decision could lead to similar wins for business owners across the state.
The lawsuit, which was filed in April 2022, said that the town didn’t give any proof, as needed by state law, to support a host community agreement (HCA) fee.
“I’m glad we were able to agree on something,” Caroline Frankel, owner of Caroline’s Cannabis, told the Observer.
“Unfortunately, the town had to go to court to admit there were no known effects and settle the case.” This case should help other businesses and cities come to an understanding.
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A study from 2022 says that since 2018, 47 Massachusetts cities and towns have gotten $53.3 million in impact fees from operators.
The governor of Massachusetts signed a marijuana reform bill in 2022. The bill’s goals were to give the state’s Cannabis Control Commission more control over so-called host community agreements (HCAs) and let companies renegotiate them.
The Observer said that in November 2022, Boston gave $2.9 million in impact fees back to nine weed shops in the city.
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