Worcester County commissioners voted 5–2 on Oct. 21 to transfer county-administered cannabis reinvestment funds to the Local Management Board (LMB) for administration and awarding, after an earlier tied vote left the matter unresolved.

Background: the county has received cannabis funding since 2024. Earlier guidance permitted community‑based initiatives, and the county released a reinvestment and repair grant application in June that drew 23 proposals. Subsequent state regulations narrowed permissible uses to items such as behavioral‑health crisis response, homelessness prevention, and other social‑service uses, prompting staff to seek commissioner direction on whether the county should administer the program or pass funds to the LMB.

Initial motion and tie: Commissioner Bertino moved to transfer the funds to the Local Management Board; Commissioner Purnell seconded. The first recorded vote was a 3–3 tie while one commissioner had stepped out, which meant the motion failed on that vote.

Second motion and final outcome: Commissioners reconsidered and remade the motion; the second motion passed 5–2. Commissioners noted the LMB has experience administering behavioral‑health and social‑service grants and that the county would share the 23 applications with the LMB to preserve local input.

Why it matters: new state rules limit eligible uses and prohibit law‑enforcement activities. County staff and commissioners expressed concern about grant‑management workload and state enforcement if grants fell outside allowed uses. Transferring funds to the LMB shifts management to an entity experienced with these types of grants but reduces direct county control over award decisions.

Clarifying details: staff said the state indicated allowable uses include behavioral‑health crisis response, education and after‑school programs, truancy intervention, housing and homelessness prevention, transportation improvements in high‑density areas, job training and workforce development, childcare and recreation, and programs for individuals and families impacted by incarceration. Staff and the health officer will share the original county applications with the LMB.

Votes and procedure: initial motion to transfer funds resulted in a 3–3 tie and failed; a subsequent motion succeeded 5–2. Commissioners discussed whether the county should retain input; staff said the county would provide the LMB with applications and that the county’s health officer is receptive to input.

Ending: The funds will be administered by the Worcester County Local Management Board; staff will share the grant applications it received with the LMB and collaborate on implementation details.