NEW:
At a major public-listening session related to lab fraud today, Massachusetts CCC Commissioners announced that Commissioner Ava Concepcion will be returning tomorrow (a strange development, seeing as Concepcion will be leaving again, before January of 2025).
Concepcion went on leave from the CCC under mysterious circumstances in recent months, as a series of scandals (and allegations that high-ranking agency leaders, including Concepcion and fellow Commissioner Nurys Camargo, covered up series allegations of abuse raised by female staff members at the Commission towards a now-suspended division head, Cedric Sinclair). Read more background here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445
CCC Commissioner Kimberly Roy --known as a hero throughout the state for being the first person to bring up the issue of lab fraud, years ago-- also announced that she is pushing for the de-anonymized release of all testing lab data in the state (data that will show, according to my sources, at least 3-4 labs with a failure rate for total year and mold that is either at, around, or below 4% (some labs have fail rates for yeast and mold that is close to zero).
That said, for now, because the CCC has only released potency data, I am taking this opportunity to release multiple years of total yeast and mold results for the Commonwealth (which have been released to multiple people but, for some reason, were not put on the CCC website) - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10HaUR9rTfprnRtuJEOUQFjcJyiuDkFpG?usp=sharing
Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins also doubled down, before the meeting started, and told the public and stakeholders that the CCC’s “secret shopper program” (to catch lab fraud) does exist, despite reporting on this feed (and confirmed by CCC staff, also per this feed) that such a program does not actually exist. Read that reporting here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/follow-up-ccc-of-115104903
However, during a flurry of conversations Thursday afternoon, I
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 10/10/24
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 10/10/24
Massachusetts CCC Monthly Public Meeting 9/12/24
Massachusetts CCC Monthly Public Meeting 9/12/24
Good evening, towel friends.
If you’re wondering, “Grant, did you drive 240 miles yesterday in order to deliver public comments to the CCC about testing lab fraud and the need to create a farmers equity program (a la what already exists for other companies via 935CMR500.105 17 (A-C)?”
The answer is most certainly, “That’s a highly specific question....but, maybe.”
Also, it was not lost on me that Commissioner Camargo literally walked out for the first 90 seconds of my comments (but, being the consummate towel-diplomat that I am, I smirked, took it in stride, and kept right on going).
Also, for almost the duration of the 2 hour meeting, one of the CCC press team (who shall remain nameless) stood behind me and, quite literally, read everything on my screen in real time.
I used the opportunity to write a story about Ascend Wellness and one of said staffer’s former bosses (Shawn Collins), as she looked on while I hit publish. This seemed to make her nervous.
Then, we both spent some time reading Le Monde, El Pais, The Guardian, and otherwise before I, eventually, got up to deliver my remarks below.
Overall, It was a nice bonding experience. I think the press team really learned a lot about me.
Alright, I'm having a bit too much fun with this.
Here's my expanded thoughts on the systemic breakdowns currently occurring within the Massachusetts CCC, as summarized by a horrifying-accurate AI.
"Dive into the tumultuous world of adult and medical use regulation, where a cascade of resignations reveals a deeper crisis within the Massachusetts CCC. With turnover at an all-time high, scandals unfold, illuminating the fragile dynamics of oversight in this highly regulated industry.
This compelling exploration unpacks the intricate flow chart of decision-making and its myriad micro-issues, showcasing how seemingly isolated events reflect systemic failures. As the commentary navigates through the overlapping sociopolitical circles that shape the agency, viewers gain unprecedented insights into the complexities of regulatory capture, favoritism, and the precarious balance of accountability.
As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that without proper enforcement and oversight, well-crafted policies can easily be undermined, leading to dangerous consequences for workers, consumers, and the marketplace. Unearth the hidden dangers of a regulatory framework that may favor the few while neglecting the many.
Join the conversation about the implications of this evolving situation, and stay informed about the ongoing developments in the industry."
Read my initial September, 2023, reporting --that brought all of this chaos into the public sphere for the first time (leading to a cascading series of events, yet to fully culminate, but quickly coming to involve the State Inspector General (@MassOIG), the State Auditor (@massauditor), and a number of state lawmakers on Beacon Hill (including @SenMikeMoore, @RepSoter and others)-- here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/89165627
Read more about serious allegations of abuse and cover-ups within the CCC here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445
Read more about allegations of "playbooks" being used to take out Commissione
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/14/24 Part II
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/14/24 Part II
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/14/24
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/14/24
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/8/2024
Massachusetts CCC Public Meeting 8/8/2024
Massachusetts CCC Monthly Public Meeting 7/19/2024 10:00AM Part 2
Massachusetts CCC Monthly Public Meeting 7/19/2024 10:00AM Part 2
JUST IN;
The Massachusetts CCC announced today --among a whirlwind of controversy and active discussions by the State Inspector General, and lawmakers on Beacon Hill, to put the agency under receivership due to a conflagrating internal power struggle and reports of serious abuse of female staff members-- that the agency is aiming to make a decision by “Winter 2025” as to if a three year equity priority period for delivery licenses in the state will be extended.
When the priority period was created, to much fanfare, it was subject to an ill-fated lawsuit by industry MSO’s (who saw the rise of viable, stand alone, warehouse delivery operators as a threat to their consolidated control over the market).
However, the little-priority-period-that-could (that brainchild of then Commissioner Shaleen Title) survived that corporate onslaught and, now, seems poised to be extended for a lengthy period of time.
One Commissioner, and someone who has become a grassroots hero of sorts, Kimberly Roy, even asked CCC Staff to look into a seven year priority period in Colorado (that was the result of just such an extension by regulators in that state).
An update is expected in the fall of 2024 as to next steps, and this news will come as a huge relief to equity-owned delivery companies (who have said the priority period, where only firms 51% or more owned and controlled by and social equity or economic empowerment applicant can own such a delivery license).
However, this news will also break the souls of MSO’s (who had hoped, for years, to buy out “courier” companies, that cannot own a warehouse and instead work directly for large corporate MSO firms, once the priority period ended.
Excellent news.
#mapoli
BREAKING NEWS;
Acting CCC Executive Director Debbie Hilton-Creek, and acting Chair Ava Concepcion, release joint statement after request from State Inspector General, lawmakers and some Commissioners to stop Concepcion from undermining Hilton-Creek’s powers as acting ED.
Concepcion read a lengthy letter defender her time with the CCC, but, strangely, did not address the “break glass” moment where Concepcion, herself, moved to strip Hilton-Creek of her powers in June of 2024 (and allegations that Concepcion has been ordering the CCC not to cooperate with the OIG’s investigation into the agency (and the Chair herself, apparently).
It is unclear why Concepcion did not address those concerns, or a pending proposal from lawmakers to put the CCC into receivership. More to come.
#mapoli
Remarks from Commissioner Kimberly Roy at today's CCC public meeting.
Commissioner Roy commented on her support of staff in light of current concerns by state oversight officials (which relates to conduct by Roy's colleagues that has deeply troubled lawmakers and the Inspector General, leading to a request to put the agency into receivership.