The Recorder – My Turn: Don’t undo cannabis contracts

Greetings, Speaker Mariano, Property Means and Indicates Committee and Honorable Legislators,

I am the town supervisor in Athol and the latest chair of the Compact City Administrators of Massachusetts. This commentary is supplied in my potential as city supervisor, the Athol Board of Selectmen and probable dozens additional main administrators, supervisors and mayors all through the commonwealth.

The Legislature is on the cusp of earning some remarkable enhancements to the social fairness element of the hashish sector and I am positive most municipalities will applaud this motion and embrace a established of uniform strategies — even if overdue — to strengthen obtain to this business by social equity contributors and corporations.

My worry all through this path of charges and amendments stays centered on the attempts to undo deal agreements that cities and cities bargained in excellent faith although embracing a new market — cannabis — as host communities. These groundbreaking communities unquestionably sought a economical benefit for the citizenry in trade for their willingness to be on the forefront of a new industry that was formerly deemed illegal and for which latent impacts may possibly not be recognised. Significant time, hard work and cash was expended to build neighborhood bylaws, ordinances and zoning reforms necessary to let these new enterprises.

Now, maybe for the reason that a incredibly couple of lousy actors acted in negative faith, the total host local community arrangement procedure that was followed in fantastic religion and that has resulted in at minimum 1,000 mutually agreed contracts throughout the commonwealth appears to be below fireplace. These present contracts ought to communicate for on their own and not be matter to ex submit facto regulation. The courts now have jurisdiction over contract regulation. Accordingly, I respectfully ask for that the Home take the subsequent suggested amendments to H-4791:

Support Amendment #19 to H4791 sponsored by Ms. Blais and co-sponsored by Mr. Kushmerek, Ms. Whipps, Mr. Philips and Mr. Argosky LeBoeuf to incorporate language stating that “any host group agreement in effect prior to the efficient day of this act shall not be issue to commission evaluation through the initial time period of these agreement.”

Support Amendments #15 and #21 to H4791 sponsored by Mr. Kushmerek to streamline documentation necessities.

Oppose Amendment #23 to H4791 sponsored by Ms. Sabadosa regarding effect fees as unneeded whereas breach of deal currently falls within the matter make a difference jurisdiction of the courts.

Thank you for your services to your district constituents and our commonwealth.

Shaun A. Suhoski is the Athol City Supervisor.