The state of Massachusetts has been making headlines in the cannabis industry recently, with a major decision that is set to change the game for delivery companies.
For years, these businesses have had to abide by a strict rule requiring two employees on every single delivery – no exceptions. This regulation, known as the “Two Agent Rule”, has been met with criticism and complaints from operators who argue that it is unnecessary and costly.
However, after much deliberation, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has finally voted in favor of changing this rule, bringing much relief to delivery companies across Massachusetts.
The journey towards legalized recreational marijuana in Massachusetts began back in 2016 when voters approved the ballot question for its legalization. However, it wasn’t until 2018 that the first adult-use dispensaries opened their doors to customers. Along with regulations for dispensary operations, rules were also put in place for cannabis delivery companies. One of these rules was the “Two Agent Rule”, which required two employees to be present during all deliveries. This rule has been criticized by delivery companies, as other states with adult use cannabis do not have this requirement.
While the CCC has made strides in creating a framework for recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, some regulations, like the Two Agent Rule, have faced pushback from industry professionals. The rule has been seen as unnecessary and costly, as it requires companies to have two employees on hand at all times during deliveries. This creates a burden for delivery companies and ultimately impacts their bottom line, as these high operational costs are then passed along to their customers.
CCC Votes in Favor of Rule Change
After much discussion and debate, the CCC finally voted 3 to 1 in favor of changing the Two Agent Rule for cannabis deliveries as reported by WCVB5. This vote was met with celebration from many delivery companies who have been advocating for this change for a long time. The outcome of this decision means that delivery companies will now only need to have one employee on hand during all deliveries, which is expected to provide significant cost savings for operators.
This rule change is a major win for cannabis delivery companies in Massachusetts, as it means they can now operate more efficiently and effectively. With only one employee needed on deliveries, operational costs are expected to decrease, which could ultimately lead to lower prices for customers.
We reached out to our friend Devin Alexander, CEO and co-founder of Rolling Releaf, a Massachusetts delivery company to get his thoughts on impracticality of two driver rule and his thoughts on the new ruling:
“I used to work for Amazon as a solo-driver, and I can tell you we had way more than $10,000 of goods, which is the cannabis delivery vehicle daily limit. If there isn’t a public safety issue with that, there shouldn’t be just because we’re carrying cannabis.” speaking on the impracticality of the two driver rule.
“It’s been a long journey, we’ve been at this since the summer of 2021. The early times of the CCC saw a decent amount of turnover and that made it difficult to push any new initiatives through. It took us getting input from local stakeholders, especially in the area of public safety.”
“I think what sealed the deal for us was an approval letter from Newtown Police Chief John Carmichael, who’s also the Vice President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Of Police and on the Cannabis Advisory Board said Alexander, “He was originally one of the biggest proponents of the two-driver rule, but has since completely changed his view based on data and speaking with colleagues in other states (Mass is only state that requires two drivers). When that letter was read in committee last week, it felt like an unreal moment to me.”
We also asked Alexander about what else the CCC in Mass could do to help the delivery companies in the state, saying:
“The next target for us is getting delivery access into all municipalities, including ones that have a current moratorium on retail shops. The initial reasoning behind those bans doesn’t hold true anymore, and it actually restricts access to consumers who are unable to travel outside their local area.”
“The other change that needs to be looked into is the ability to deliver to hotels. We can only currently deliver to private residences, which keeps us operating like we’re a medical market instead of an adult-use state. It’s a huge potential customer base we simply don’t have access to currently.”
Overall, the removal of the “Two Agent” Rule for cannabis deliveries in Massachusetts is a necessary and long-awaited step toward creating a more efficient and cost-effective system for delivery companies. This decision not only benefits operators but also has potential cost savings for customers as well. However, there are still improvements to be made in terms of municipality access and delivering to hotels.
We hope the CCC will continue to work towards creating a fair and successful framework for cannabis in Massachusetts, and we look forward to seeing more progress in the future. So, it is a great step towards providing better services to consumers and making the market more competitive. As the industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see more improvements and changes that will benefit both delivery companies and customers alike.
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