935 Mass. Reg. 501.802

Current through Register 1524, June 21, 2024

Section 501.802 - Suitability Standard for Registration as a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Agent

(1) In accordance with M.G.L. c. 94G, § 4(a½)(iii), the Commission has established qualifications for licensure and minimum standards for employment that are directly and demonstrably related to the operation of an MTC and similar to qualifications for licensure and employment standards in connection with alcoholic Beverages as regulated under M.G.L. c. 138; provided, that a prior conviction solely for a Marijuana-related offense or for a violation of M.G.L. c. 94C, § 34 shall not disqualify an individual or otherwise affect eligibility for employment or licensure in connection with an MTC, unless the offense involved the distribution of a controlled substance, including Marijuana, to a minor.

(2) For purposes of determining suitability based on background checks in accordance with 935 CMR 501.030 and 501.101.

(a) All conditions, offenses, and violations are construed to include Massachusetts law or like or similar law(s) of Other Jurisdictions.

(b) All criminal disqualifying conditions, offenses, and violations include the crimes of attempt, accessory, conspiracy and solicitation.

(c) Juvenile dispositions shall not be considered as a factor for determining suitability.

(d) Where applicable, all look back periods for criminal conditions, offenses, and violations included in 935 CMR 501.802: Table B and 935 CMR 501.803: Table C commence on the date of disposition; provided however, that if disposition results in incarceration in any institution, the look back period shall commence on release from incarceration.

(e) Unless otherwise specified in 935 CMR 501.802: Table B and 935 CMR 501.803: Table C, a criminal condition, offense or violation shall include both convictions, which include guilty pleas and pleas of nolo contendere, and dispositions resulting in continuances without a finding or other disposition constituting an admission to sufficient facts, but shall exclude other non-conviction dispositions. All suitability determinations will be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in 935 CMR 501.800. In addition to the requirements established in 935 CMR 501.800, the Suitability Review Committee shall:

1. Consider whether offense(s) or information that would result in a Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination under 935 CMR 501.802: Table B and 935 CMR 501.803: Table C renders the subject unsuitable for registration, regardless of the determination of the Licensee; and

2. Consider appeals of determinations of unsuitability based on claims of erroneous information received as part of the background check during the application process in accordance with 803 CMR 2.17: Requirement to Maintain a Secondary Dissemination Log and 803 CMR 2.18: Adverse Employment Decision Based on CORI or Other Types of Criminal History Information Received from a Source Other than the DCJIS.

(3) Registered Agents shall remain suitable at all times a License or registration remains in effect. An individual subject to this section shall notify the Commission in writing of any charge or conviction of an offense that would result in a presumptive negative suitability determination or mandatory disqualification under 935 CMR 501.802: Table B and 935 CMR 501.803: Table C within ten days of such individual's arrest or summons, and within ten days of the disposition on the merits of the underlying charge. Failure to make proper notification to the Commission may be grounds for disciplinary action. If the Commission lawfully finds a disqualifying event and the individual asserts that the record was sealed, the Commission may require the individual to provide proof from a court evidencing the sealing of the case.

Table B: MTC Agents. Shall apply solely to applicants for registration as an MTC Agent at an MTC licensed pursuant to 935 CMR 501.101.

Time Period	Precipitating Issue	Result
Present (during time from start of application process through action on application or renewal).	Open/Unresolved Criminal Proceedings: Any outstanding or unresolved criminal proceeding, the disposition of which may result in a felony conviction under the laws of the Commonwealth or Other Jurisdictions, but excluding any criminal proceeding based solely on a Marijuana-related offense or a violation of M.G.L. c. 94C, § 32E(a) or § 34.	Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination
Present	Open Professional or Occupational License Cases	Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination
Present	Open/Unresolved Marijuana License or Registration Violations (Massachusetts or Other Jurisdictions): An outstanding or unresolved violation of the regulations as included in 935 CMR 501.000 or a similar statute or regulations of Other Jurisdictions, which has either (a) remained unresolved for a period of six months or more; or (b) the nature of which would result in a determination of unsuitability for registration.	Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination
Present	Submission of Untruthful Information to the Commission Including, but Not Limited to: Submission of information in connection with an agent application, waiver request or other Commission action that is deceptive, misleading, false or fraudulent, or that tends to deceive or create a misleading impression, whether directly, or by omission or ambiguity, including lack of disclosure or insufficient disclosure; or Making statements during or in connection with a Commission inspection or investigation that are deceptive, misleading, false or fraudulent, or that tend to deceive or create a misleading impression, whether directly, or by omission or ambiguity, including lack of disclosure or insufficient disclosure.	Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination
Indefinite	Sex Offense: Felony conviction for a "sex offense" as defined in M.G.L. c. 6, § 178C and M.G.L. c. 127, § 133E or like offenses in Other Jurisdictions.	Mandatory Disqualification
Indefinite	Felony Convictions in Massachusetts or Other Jurisdictions for trafficking crimes under M.G.L. c. 94C, § 32E, or like crimes in Other Jurisdictions, except convictions for solely Marijuana-related crimes under M.G.L. c. 94C, § 32E (a), or like crimes in Other Jurisdictions.	Mandatory Disqualification
Indefinite	Conviction or Continuance without a Finding (CWOF) for Any Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Minor	Mandatory Disqualification
Indefinite	Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Any Jurisdiction	Mandatory Disqualification
Indefinite	(MTC Agents Engaging in Transportation or Home Delivery Operations Only) Multiple Crimes of Operating under the Influence: Two offenses within a ten-year period; or Three or more offenses within any period of time.	Presumptive Negative Suitability Determination
Preceding Five Years	Felony Convictions in Massachusetts or Other Jurisdictions for crimes of violence against a person or crimes of dishonesty or fraud, "violent crime" to be defined the same way as under M.G.L. c. 140, § 121 and M.G.L. c. 127, § 133E.	Mandatory Disqualification
Preceding Five Years	The applicant's or Licensee's prior actions posed or would likely pose a risk to the public health, safety, or welfare; and the risk posed by the applicant's or Licensee's actions relates or would likely relate to the operation of an MTC.	May make a Negative Suitability Determination in accordance with 935 CMR 501.800(8)

935 CMR 501.802

Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1403, eff. 11/1/2019.

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1434, eff. 1/8/2021.