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Our Advocacy
Equity for Farmers
Massachusetts State Law:
An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry
What We are Calling for:
Farm Bug Cooperative (Co-op) believes that the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development should direct state grants from the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund (created by Chapter 180) to farmers, cooperatives and other small, local cannabis businesses. To date, there isn’t one cooperative that has received a final license to commence operations from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). That is an equity issue that should be addressed through an equity fund.
The Craft Marijuana Cooperative license type was specifically created for local farmers, as one member of the cooperative or a farmer leasing their land to a cooperative must have filed a Schedule F in the last 5 years, showing that they are a working farm. Per Massachusetts state law, Chapter 55 in the Acts of 2017, An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana, the CCC must “...promote and encourage full participation in the regulated marijuana industry by farmers.”
Our Co-op will advocate the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to include co-ops and farmers in their plans for state grants. We believe that this would make the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund much more inclusive of the businesses having the hardest time starting up in the Commonwealth. If you agree with what we are calling for, PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION.
Download Farm Bug Co-op's 2023 recommendations for regulatory changes.
The SHIP Act
The Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act, introduced in the US House, will enable direct-to-consumer shipping across the country for small, independent cannabis farmers upon federal legalization. Farm Bug Cooperative (Co-op), as a member of the National Craft Cannabis Coalition (NCCC) worked directly with Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) in the drafting of this bill. The bill is co-sponsored by Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Co-Chair and Founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. Farm Bug Co-op endorses the SHIP Act and is also working at the state-level in Massachusetts to ensure that farmers have access to direct-to-consumer sales.
Farm Bug Co-op is a proud member of
