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Templeton Select Board adopts draft social-equity policy to comply with state cannabis rules
Summary
The board voted to adopt a social equity policy and plan to meet Cannabis Control Commission requirements and to avoid potential penalties, directing staff to finalize details and provide a grading matrix for future host-community agreements.
The Templeton Select Board on Sept. 10 voted to adopt a draft social equity policy and plan designed to comply with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s social-equity regulations. The board approved the policy after receiving a legal briefing from town counsel and amid discussion about the state’s evolving rules and their potential impact on local host-community agreements.
Why it matters: The policy formalizes how the town will consider and prioritize applicants for host-community agreements (HCA) related to cannabis businesses, including economic-empowerment priority applicants identified by the commission. Adoption seeks to avoid fines or administrative actions and to create a transparent, standardized process for reviewing applicants.
Town counsel Ryan told the board the town had received notice that it was not in compliance with the Commission’s regulations and recommended adopting at least a policy and plan rather than a bylaw immediately in order to meet the commission’s timeframe. "The town received notice that it's not in compliance with the cannabis control commission's social equity regulations," Ryan said during the briefing.
The draft policy before the board lays out required elements under the state rules: transparency protocols, a social-equity plan, negotiation protocols for host-community agreements, a grading matrix to evaluate applicants, and a positive-impact plan describing the town’s goals for social-equity businesses. The board discussed the matrix and asked staff to circulate that document; counsel said the plan does not depend on the matrix being in the packet but that the matrix must be adopted and used in future reviews.
Select Board members said they support a standardized process to reduce ad-hoc decisions and help applicants understand application priorities. One board member described the state’s rollout as slow and subject to change and said adopting a local policy now would help avoid procedural gaps.
The board voted in favor, with one member abstaining. The Select Board instructed staff and counsel to finalize any necessary administrative details, circulate the grading matrix, and proceed with implementation so the town can demonstrate compliance to the Cannabis Control Commission.
