Massachusetts Cannabis Delivery Rules Preventing Sector from Profitability

Massachusetts cannabis delivery businesses say they are delivering more cannabis than ever, but a state regulation is preventing them from earning a profit, according to a MassLive report. The state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) requires two drivers in each delivery vehicle and each driver must wear a body camera and the vehicle must have a GPS.

“My hope is that there are some changes that are made that make the industry a bit more balanced, a bit more equitable,” Christopher Fevry, CEO of cannabis delivery firm Your Green Package, told MassLive. “There needs to be a balance between regulations and actual business operations and things that are happening on the ground.”

Adult-use cannabis home delivery began in Massachusetts this year as part of the state’s social equity program. There are two license types that are exclusively available to social equity applicants for three years. However, the two-driver rule is making it difficult for these businesses to succeed, delivery service owners said in the report.

“I’m proud of the regulations that we’ve established thus far because they aim to both increase access and equity in the industry while also upholding the Commission’s commitment to public safety. I want to ensure that this part of the industry thrives, especially considering the three-year exclusivity period given to equity applicants for this license type,” said Ava Calendar Concepcion, who holds the public safety seat on the CCC, in a written statement. She said the commission is open to hearing “about what [delivery firms] feel is working or where challenges may exist.”

Addressing safety concerns, Fevry said his firm has not had any issues.

“When anything’s being done that’s new, there’s a fear of the unknown, but I think through our operations, through what we’ve done, we’ve proven that this can be done safely,” he said in the report. “There’s also a multitude of other security provisions like the body cameras, the GPS tracking of the cars, the cameras watching the drivers, watching the vehicles.”

Fevry and other delivery drivers say they have spoken with commissioners who have been open to hearing about the issues.