Legal marijuana

Lawmakers reach pot compromise

Drugs/ Politics

Lawmakers reach pot compromise

Bill boosts tax up to 20 percent, creates unique mechanism for local control

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FIRE UP THE SMOKING lamp. House and Senate negotiators finally reached a compromise on amending the voter-approved law legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts, agreeing to levy a tax of up to 20 percent and approving a different process to implement bans or restrictions based on election results from last November. “Compromise means you get some of what(...)

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Top House leader unaware of budget, pot links

Drugs/ Politics

Top House leader unaware of budget, pot links

Mariano says no senator has suggested tradeoffs in negotiations despite DeLeo statement

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THE HOUSE’S TOP POT negotiator said on Thursday he’s not aware of anyone from either the Senate or House who has tried to link the negotiations over the budget and marijuana bills. “We’re the last people that would want to tie this together,” said Rep. Ronald Mariano of Quincy, the House majority leader. “We have(...)

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DeLeo puts pot talks on hold until budget done

Drugs/ Politics

DeLeo puts pot talks on hold until budget done

Rosenberg refutes hint that Senate is linking budget, marijuana bills

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HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO said Wednesday evening that he asked House members of the committee negotiating marijuana legislation to pull out of talks with the Senate until an agreement is reached on the fiscal 2018 budget. DeLeo released a statement at 6:16 p.m., shortly after the State House News Service reported that the pot and(...)

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Cusack denies retaliation over Lottery move

Drugs/ Politics

Cusack denies retaliation over Lottery move

House to vote on pot bill that sets tax rate to 28%

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THE HOUSE CHAIR of the Legislature’s marijuana committee denied that his ire at State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg over a potential Lottery headquarters move out of his hometown was connected to his push to remove control of the impending marijuana industry from her office. “It’s not about any one person, but it’s the simple premise that(...)

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House reneged on pot agreement, say sources

Drugs/ Politics

House reneged on pot agreement, say sources

Officials say chair irked over Lottery move

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HOUSE LEADERS ABRUPTLY walked away from an agreement between Gov. Charlie Baker, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stan Rosenberg that would have kept oversight of the emerging legal pot industry with the state treasurer and sources indicated it may be connected to anger from the House chair of the marijuana committee over a potential(...)

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House guts voter-approved pot law

Drugs/ Health Care/ Politics

House guts voter-approved pot law

Measure overhauls key pieces from tax rate to oversight

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THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE will unveil a measure Wednesday that completely overhauls the voter-approved referendum legalizing recreational marijuana while also moving oversight of medical marijuana under the same regulatory umbrella. About the only thing the 48-page bill, a copy of which was obtained by CommonWealth,  leaves in place from the question put before voters last November(...)

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Sources: Higher tax, new opt-out in pot bill

Drugs/ Economy/ Politics

Sources: Higher tax, new opt-out in pot bill

House measure would keep treasurer in charge but expand oversight board

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STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES would be taxed at a maximum rate of 18.75 percent under legislation being developed by the House in preparation for a Thursday vote that would also alter the oversight and local control of an industry legalized by voters last November, according to sources within the Legislature or close(...)

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House to roll out rewrite of legal pot bill

Drugs/ Economy/ Politics

House to roll out rewrite of legal pot bill

Reps set to vote on changing ballot question on Thursday; Senate plans unclear

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STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE LEADERSHIP WILL unveil its proposal to overhaul the voter-backed law legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts on Wednesday, setting up an expected debate and vote before the full membership on Thursday. The bill’s details have been held tightly by those writing the legislation, but it is widely expected to address the tax(...)

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