William D. Cox, Jr., Esq. v. Cannabis Control Commission (SPR 20232785)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 30, 2023 SPR23/2785 Andrew Carter, Esq. Acting General Counsel Cannabis Control Commission 2 Washington Square Worcester, MA 01604 Dear Attorney Carter: I have received the petition of William D. Cox, Jr., Esq., on behalf of the City of Haverhill, appealing the response of the Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On September 19, 2023, Attorney Cox requested the following records: [1.] All agendas and open or executive meeting minutes and other documents which relate to the creation of the following Cannabis Control Commission working groups: Host Community Agreement Working Group, Municipal Equity Working Group, and Social Consumption Working Group. [2.] All agendas and open or executive meeting minutes for the following working groups: Host Community Agreement Working Group, Municipal Equity Working Group, and Social Consumption Working Group. [3.] Documents which identify the members of the Host Community Agreement Working Group, Municipal Equity Working Group, and Social Consumption Working Group documents that identify how these persons were selected to be members of these working groups. [4.] All draft regulations, electronic communications, and any other documents, included documents received from third parties, related to any efforts by the Host Community Agreement Working Group, Municipal Equity Working Group, and Social Consumption Working Group to draft regulations pursuant to Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022, “An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry” (the “Act”). One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Andrew Carter, Esq. SPR23/2785 Page 2 November 30, 2023 [5.] All comments, written testimony, electronic communications and any other documents submitted to the Cannabis Control Commission and/or the above- referenced working groups concerning the content of any proposed regulations pursuant to the Act, by any person not employed by the Cannabis Control Commission. [6.] All documents which identify any persons that contributed to the drafting of proposed regulations pursuant to the Act. Previous appeal This request was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR23/2442 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (October 17, 2023). In the October 17th determination, I closed the appeal as a result of the Commission’s October 16, 2023 response. Unsatisfied with the response, Attorney Cox petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2785, was opened as a result. In an email received by this office on November 30, 2023, a representative of the Commission states that the Commission intends on providing a further response to Attorney Cox to address his records request. Accordingly, the Commission is ordered to provide Attorney Cox with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Attorney Cox may appeal the substantive nature of the Commission’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: William D. Cox, Jr., Esq.