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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 31 december 2016

Massachusetts governor signs bill delaying pot shop openings

MARK PRATT The action by lawmakers gray area that will confuse
Associated Press doesn’t change that. But people.
BOSTON (AP) — Mas- what it’s almost certain to “We are in fear that people
sachusetts Gov. Charlie do is push back the time- are going to get arrested
Baker signed a bill Friday table for opening retail in the next six months be-
aimed at delaying by up marijuana stores from the cause there will be a time
to six months the opening beginning of 2018 until the frame when it’s legal to
of marijuana shops in the middle of that year. possess it but you cannot
state until mid-2018. Senate President Stan buy it,” Donlan said. “We’re
An aide to the Republican Rosenberg and House losing out on tax revenue
governor said Baker shares Speaker Robert DeLeo, and we’re fueling the
the desire of state lawmak- both Democrats, said push- black market.” Among the
ers to thoroughly prepare ing back the deadlines will key deadlines that would
for the launch of a new give lawmakers more time be put off six months in-
industry distributing a con- improve the law by con- clude the current March 1
trolled substance. With marijuana pinned to her scarf, RachelRamone Donlan at- sidering issues that were deadline for state Treasurer
Baker is “committed to ad- tends a rally in front of the Statehouse in Boston, Friday, Dec. 30, not addressed in the ballot Deb Goldberg to appoint a
hering to the will of the vot- 2016. question. cannabis control commis-
ers by implementing the Associated Press RachelRamone Donlan sion to oversee the recre-
new law as effectively and ganization for the Reform ing informal sessions in both was among the dozen or ational marijuana market;
responsibly as possible,” of Marijuana Laws faulted chambers. Only a handful so protesters outside the a Sept. 15 deadline for the
the governor’s communi- lawmakers for passing the of lawmakers were present. Statehouse. The 45-year- commission to approve de-
cations director Lizzy Guy- bill during end-of-year ses- The ballot initiative that al- old Braintree resident said tailed regulations; an Oct.
ton said. sions and said the delay lows adults 21 and over she and other cannabis 1 deadline for accepting
Baker’s decision to sign the “flies in the face of the to possess and use limited activists are “100 percent applications for retail mari-
bill came as a small group will of the voters” who ap- amounts of recreational outraged” that a small juana outlets, and the Jan.
of marijuana activists pro- proved the ballot question marijuana and grow as group of lawmakers undid 1, 2018, deadline for licens-
tested outside the State- legalizing pot. many as a dozen pot plants the will of the people. She ing the first pot shops.
house. The House and Senate in their homes was ap- said she’s even angrier that For now, it remains illegal
Members of the Massachu- passed the bill Wednesday proved by 53.7 percent of Baker signed the bill. in Massachusetts to sell pot
setts Cannabis Reform Co- without a public hearing voters on Nov. 8 and took Donlan also warned of except to registered medi-
alition and the National Or- and without debate dur- effect Dec. 15. what she called a legal cal marijuana patients.