| Weâve written in this newsletter about the high turnover rate among dispensary employees, but a similar trend can be seen within the regulatory agencies overseeing state-legal cannabis markets. This is often by design (due to term limits or other guardrails), but the revolving door of regulators remains an important piece of context as the cannabis industry grows up. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) marked its fifth anniversary this month, and the milestone came with the appointment of Shannon O'Brien as CCC chair. "You're probably aware of this, that you're joining the commission at a pivotal time," Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion told O'Brien, somewhat cryptically, at her first CCC meeting, as reported by NBC Boston. At stake is nothing less than the future of the cannabis industry in Massachusetts, judging by the tenor of CCC membersâ banter. A new law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker charged the CCC with even more power to elevate the diversity of the stateâs cannabis industry and to dial in local municipalitiesâ roles. OâBrien now has a chance to forge a legacyânot only for her and the current era of the CCC, but for all licensed cannabis businesses in the state. One hope voiced by the CCC is to strengthen host community agreementsâthe formal contracts inked as part of the local approval process in Massachusettsâ cannabis industry. The idea is to ensure that applicants arenât merely paying lip service to the notion of local community engagement; the CCC intends on taking a closer look at those agreements to make sure that those relationships are meaningful and impactful. The same idea goes for licensed businesses and the CCC itself: relationships matter. When new folks come into office, itâs important for everyone involved to take notice and acknowledge one another. With each cycle of regulatory turnover, new possibilities and interpretations emerge. Business owners would do well to follow their stateâs work closely. -Eric Sandy, Digital Editor | 