935 CMR, § 500.103

Current through Register 1533, October 25, 2024

Section 500.103 - Licensure and Renewal

(1)Provisional License. On selection by the Commission, an applicant shall submit the required license fee and subsequently be issued a provisional license to develop a Marijuana Establishment, in the name of the entity. Such provisional license shall be subject to reasonable conditions specified by the Commission, if any.

(a) The Commission shall review architectural plans for the building or renovation of a Marijuana Establishment. Construction or renovation related to such plans may not begin until the Commission has granted approval. Submission of such plans shall occur in a manner and form established by the Commission including, but not limited to, a detailed floor plan of the Premises of the proposed Marijuana Establishment that identifies the square footage available and describes the functional areas of the Marijuana Establishment, including areas for any preparation of Marijuana Products, and, if applicable, such information for the single allowable off-Premises location in Massachusetts where Marijuana will be cultivated or Marijuana Products will be prepared; and a description of plans to ensure that the Marijuana Establishment will be compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines.

(b) To demonstrate compliance with 935 CMR 500.120(11), a Marijuana Cultivator applicant shall also submit an energy compliance letter prepared by a Massachusetts Licensed Professional Engineer or Massachusetts Licensed Registered Architect with supporting documentation. For a Microbusiness or Craft Marijuana Cooperative with a cultivation location sized as Tier 1 or Tier 2, compliance with any of the requirements of 935 CMR 500.120 (11) may be demonstrated through an energy compliance letter prepared by one or more of the following energy professionals:

1. A Certified Energy Auditor certified by the Association of Energy Engineers;

2. A Certified Energy Manager certified by the Association of Energy Engineers;

3. A Massachusetts Licensed Professional Engineer; or

4. A Massachusetts Licensed Registered Architect.

(c) A Marijuana Establishment shall construct its facilities in accordance with 935 CMR 500.000, conditions set forth by the Commission in its provisional license and architectural review, and any applicable state and local laws, regulations, permits or licenses.

(d) The Commission may conduct inspections of the facilities, as well as review all written materials required in accordance with 935 CMR 500.000.

(e) The applicable license fee shall be paid within 90 days from the date the applicant was approved for a provisional license by the Commission. Failure to pay the applicable license fee within the required time frame shall result in the license approval expiring. If this occurs, a new license application will need to be completed pursuant to 935 CMR 500. 101 and will require Commission approval.

(f) To the extent updates are required to the information provided for initial licensure, the Marijuana Cultivator shall submit an updated energy compliance letter prepared by a Massachusetts Licensed Professional Engineer or Massachusetts Licensed Registered Architect with supporting documentation, together with a renewal application submitted under 935 CMR 500.103(4).

(g) Prior to the issuance of a final license, an Independent Testing Laboratory shall demonstrate compliance with 935 CMR 500.050(7)(a) and provide to the Commission documentation relating to its accreditation.

(h) To the extent that an Applicant for a Delivery Operator License decides, following the submission of the Application for Provisional Licensure, but prior to receiving Final Licensure, that the Applicant will engage in White Labeling, the Applicant shall submit the information required by 935 CMR 500.101(3)(h)4. to the Commission. The Executive Director shall determine whether the submission satisfies the requirements of 935 CMR 500.101(3)(h)4.

(2)Final License. On completion of all inspections required by the Commission, a Marijuana Establishment is eligible for a final license. All information described in 935 CMR 500.000 that is not available at the time of submission shall be provided to and approved by the Commission before Marijuana Establishment may receive a final license. Such final licenses shall be subject to reasonable conditions specified by the Commission, if any.

(a) No person or entity shall operate a Marijuana Establishment without a final license issued by the Commission.

(b) A provisional or final license may not be assigned or transferred without prior Commission approval.

(c) A provisional or final license shall be immediately void if the Marijuana Establishment Ceases to Operate or if, without the permission of the Commission, it relocates.

(d) Acceptance of a provisional or final license constitutes an agreement by the Marijuana Establishment that it will adhere to the practices, policies, and procedures that are described in its application materials, as well as all relevant laws, regulations, and any conditions imposed by the Commission as part of licensure.

(e) The Marijuana Establishment shall post the final license in a conspicuous location on the Premises at each Commission-approved location.

(f) The Marijuana Establishment shall conduct all activities authorized by 935 CMR 500.000 at the address(es) identified on the final license issued by the Commission.

(3) The Marijuana Establishment shall be operational within the time indicated in 935 CMR 500.101(1)(c)5. or as otherwise amended through the application process and approved by the Commission through the issuance of a final license.

(4)Expiration and Renewal of Licensure. The Marijuana Establishment's license, as applicable, shall expire one year after the date of issuance of the provisional license and annually thereafter, and may be renewed as follows, unless an action has been taken based on the grounds set forth in 935 CMR 500.450.

(a) No later than 90 calendar days prior to the expiration date, a Marijuana Establishment shall submit a completed renewal application to the Commission in a form and manner determined by the Commission, as well as the required license fee.

(b) The Marijuana Establishment shall submit as a component of the renewal application a report or other information demonstrating the establishment's efforts to comply with the plans required under 935 CMR 500.101(1), including 935 CMR 500.101(1)(a)11. and 935 CMR 500.100(1)(c)8.k., as applicable. The report shall, at a minimum, have detailed, demonstrative, and quantifiable proof of the establishment's efforts, progress, and success of said plans.

(c) A Marijuana Cultivator engaged in indoor cultivation shall include a report of the Marijuana Cultivator's energy and water usage over the 12-month period preceding the date of the application.

(d) To the extent updates are required to the information provided for initial licensure, the Marijuana Cultivator shall submit an updated energy compliance letter prepared by a Massachusetts Licensed Professional Engineer or Massachusetts Licensed Registered Architect with supporting documentation, together with a renewal application submitted under 935 CMR 500.103(4).

(e) The Marijuana Establishment shall submit as a component of the renewal application certification of good standing from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the DOR, and the DUA. Certificates of good standing will be valid if issued within 90 days of the submittal of the renewal application.

(f) The Marijuana Establishments shall update as needed, and ensure the accuracy of, all information that it submitted on its initial application for a license.

(g) The Marijuana Establishment shall comply with the requirements of 935 CMR 500.104(1) in accordance with that section separately from the renewal application.

(h) Commission shall issue a renewal license within 30 days of receipt of a renewal application and renewal license fee to a Licensee in accordance with M.G.L. c. 94G, § 6, if the Licensee:

1. Is in good standing with the Secretary of Commonwealth, DOR, and DUA;

2. Provided documentation demonstrating substantial effort or progress towards achieving its goals submitted as part of its plans required under 935 CMR 500.101(1), including 935 CMR 500.101(1)(a)11. and 500.101(1)(c)8.k., as applicable; and

3. No new information submitted as part of the renewal application, or otherwise obtained, presents suitability issues for any individual or entity listed on the application or license.

(i) All Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants shall submit, as part of its renewal application, an attestation in a form and manner determined by the Commission, executed by the individuals who, through ownership, qualify an applicant or licensee as an Economic Empowerment Priority Applicant certifying that:

1. Is in good standing with the Secretary of Commonwealth, DOR, and DUA;

3. No new information submitted as part of the renewal application, or otherwise obtained, presents suitability issues for any individual or entity listed on the application or license.

(j) CMO Marijuana Retailers shall submit the following information pertaining to patient supply of Marijuana:

1. The licensee's policy and the procedures (e.g., data points, formulas) relied on to determine what constitutes a sufficient quantity and variety of Marijuana Products consistent with 935 CMR 500.140(15); and

2. The licensee's policy and procedures for determining what qualifies as a reasonable substitution for a medical Marijuana Product under 935 CMR 500.140(15) and its policy for communicating reliance on the substitution to patients.

(5) The Commission shall maintain a publicly available and searchable source of information about all operating licensees, including Delivery Licensees, on its website.