Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 15, 2022 Sen. Lewis supports passage of Social Equity Cannabis Bill O n April 7, Senator Jason Lewis joined his State Senate colleagues to pass S.2801, An Act relative to equity in the cannabis industry. Through the creation of a new fund that aims to support equity in the cannabis industry and improvements to the local licensing process, the bill levels the industry playing fi eld to help members of communities disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement take part in the Commonwealth’s growing cannabis market. On April 11, the Massachusetts House of Representatives referred the bill to its Committee on Ways and Means. “I was pleased to join this bipartisan vote in the Senate to promote greater equity in the cannabis industry in Massachusetts,” said Lewis. “My goals when it comes to the legal adult use of marijuana have always been to prioritize equity and public health: to make safe products available for responsible adult consumers; help address the disproportionate impact of the war on drugs on communities of colANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $3.859 Mid Unleaded $4.159 Super $4.339 Diesel Fuel $4.919 "43 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2021 KERO $6.99 DEF $4.75 9 Diesel $4.559 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? Call Paul at (617) 387-5457 for details. J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. or, and prevent the creation of a predatory industry that targets young people as we have previously seen with the tobacco and vaping industries.” The bill builds upon existing Massachusetts law, which legalized adult-use cannabis and made a fi rst-in-the-nation commitment to equity in the cannabis industry. A combination of high entry costs and lack of access to capital has kept many would-be entrepreneurs from taking part, resulting in fewer than seven percent of cannabis licenses in Massachusetts going to social equity businesses. Opening an average cannabis retail shop can require $1 to $1.5 million in liquidity, and the numbers are even higher for manufacturing facilities – at around $3-$5 million. Since federal cannabis laws prevent these businesses from accessing traditional bank loans, lack of capital can pose an insurmountable barrier, leaving many entrepreneurs vulnerable to predatory fi nancial deals and damaging equity partnerships. A social equity fund created by the legislation would facilitate new access to capital by making grants and loans, including forgivable and no-interest loans, to equity applicants. percent of a cannabis business’s annual gross sales and must be reasonably related to the costs associated with hosting a cannabis business in a city or town. Some other components of the bill: • Incentives for municipalities Jason Lewis State Senator The fund has the support of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), whose commissioners voted unanimously to endorse the idea earlier this legislative session. The fund would receive 10 percent of annual revenue collected from the marijuana excise tax (an estimated $18 million for FY2023). Massachusetts is poised to join a handful of other states in pioneering this program. The bill also responds to concerns about the process of negotiating Host Community Agreements (HCAs), which have been identifi ed as a key factor in keeping industry entry costs high. The bill reaffi rms that fees in HCAs cannot exceed three to prioritize equity, through a portion of the marijuana excise tax that is distributed to cities and towns that host social equity marijuana businesses; this is cost-neutral to the consumer. • A requirement that the CCC establish rules and regulations for municipalities to promote full participation in the industry by previously harmed communities. • Clarifi cations to the existing law’s authorization of social consumption businesses, clearing a path for municipalities to permit on-site cannabis consumption businesses in their city or town via local ordinance as well as local referendum. Currently, many residents, particularly renters and those who live in public housing, do not have a location where they can legally consume cannabis products, even nine years since voters approved medical marijuana and fi ve years since the approval of adult use. Lines Connecting Lines exhibit gives images to words L ines Connecting Lines is an exhibit of poetry and visual art charged with enhancing the enjoyment and understanding of both art forms. Poems hang side by side with paintings, drawings, prints and photographs made in response to area poets’ work. The exhibit at Gallery UMA (145 Pleasant St. in Malden) runs S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Details from six of the images in the Lines Connecting Lines exhibit and a poem excerpt. The exhibit features 13 local poets and 18 artists who have created artwork in response to a selected poem. The poetry and artwork hang sided by side in this special exhibit celebrating both art forms. (Photo Courtesy of Gallery UMA) Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping through June 1, and the public is invited to a reception on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This exhibit is inspired in part by this year’s Malden Reads book selection “An American Sunrise,” by Joy Harjo. It is hosted by Gallery UMA, curated by Lisa Sears and co-organized with David Chia. Artists and poets from fi ve area towns are represented in the exhibit. The Malden artists and poets are Linda Dolph, Emily Goldhammer, Peg Kane, Yana Lapaix, Ose Manheim, Cassandra Peters, Sharon Santillo, Liz Scorsello and Stephanie Stigliano. Exhibit hours are Monday through Wednesday from noon to 6:30 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. Friday appointments can be made by emailing anne@ umaverse.org. Gallery UMA will be closed on Monday, April 18 in observance of Patriots’ Day. This project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council. For more information on this special exhibit, visit urbanmediaarts.org/galleryuma. Prices subject to change Ask about our Heating Oil Conditioner! FLEET
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