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House of Diesel cannabis host-community request tabled after committee questions state delays
Summary
Owners of House of Diesel told the committee their host-community agreement application has sat for more than two years; city solicitor and planning staff described delays tied to state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) social-equity approvals and screening-committee scheduling, and the committee tabled the item pending further information from the state.
Owners and representatives of TH Connect LLC (doing business as House of Diesel) told the City Council’s appointments committee they have been waiting more than two years for the city and the state to process their host community agreement (HCA) application.
“We're back here today because we've reached out a few times over the last, 6 months since our February meeting, and we haven't really gotten any answers,” said Shemar James, founder and CEO of House of Diesel. Connie Souza, a co-owner, and Tyrone Gomes said the applicants have spent money on rent and consultants while their application remained on hold.
Attorney Eric Jaques, representing the city solicitor’s office, told the committee that delays stem from state-level changes and from the city's need to amend existing HCAs after the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission updated rules and social-equity requirements. Jaques said he drafted a social equity policy (SEP) that the mayor approved in June and that the SEP was filed with the CCC on Aug. 4. Jaques said he had contacted CCC investigator Dan Huber and was awaiting confirmation from the state: “Once the CCC says it's approved, then we can move forward, and the mayor can reopen the application process,” Jaques told the committee.
Planning staff described their role as intake: assistant city planner Michael McCarthy said the office has the application packet on file and that "it is as complete as an application could be." McCarthy said the planning office could not advance the application while the screening committee and city solicitor's office were addressing outstanding legal and state compliance questions.
Councilors repeatedly pressed for a timeline; one member said two years was an unacceptable delay and asked that the state provide an explanation. The committee voted to table the matter and request written correspondence from the CCC investigators and that the mayor convene the screening committee as soon as practicable so applicants can be processed. Council members proposed to revisit the item at a future appointments meeting after receiving more information from the state and the solicitor’s office.
