Boston Globe quotes Jon Barooshian in “Marijuana company’s expansion plans test Mass. law”

April 3, 2019

Curaleaf, one of the largest marijuana operators in the country, has applied for Massachusetts state licenses to sell medical marijuana at three stores and recreational marijuana at three more. This represents the maximum one company is allowed to own or control under Massachusetts state law.

However, Curaleaf is buying Alternative Therapies Group, which would give Curaleaf ownership or control of six medical marijuana licenses and six recreational permits, which bumps up against the maximums.

Says Jon Barooshian in the article:

Boston attorney Jon Barooshian said he doesn’t think companies can use management agreements to get around the Massachusetts caps.

“Control is control,” said Barooshian, a litigator with Bowditch & Dewey, which represents a number of marijuana businesses.

Barooshian said he thought the rules would let companies provide consulting and some other ancillary services to an unlimited number of stores. But companies cannot actually manage or have control of key decisions, like the sale of the license, without considering the three-license cap.

“The devil is in the details,” Barooshian said. “The regulations say no individual shall be in a position to control the decision making.”

Continue reading “Marijuana company’s expansion plans test Mass. law” on the Boston Globe website.