BOSTON — Lawmakers have sparked an outrage from legal marijuana proponents after they approved a six-month delay in key provisions, including the opening of retail pot shops.
The state recently passed a new recreational marijuana law.
Members the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition are planning on holding a protest outside the Statehouse.
The bill was passed by a handful of members during an informal end-of-year session. The activists have described the move by the Democratic-controlled Legislature as “underhanded” and it “flies in the face of the will of the voters.”
Although he is yet to sign the bill, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has described the six-month delay as “perfectly appropriate.”
This new rule now pushes back the opening of retail marijuana stores until mid-2018.