POLITICS, THE ACTING CHAIR OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION JOINS ME ON THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AFTER MONTHS OF CONTROVERSY.

THE FIRST, THE INCUMBENTS ARE OUT IN A COUPLE OF RACES FOR BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL AFTER COMING IN THIRD.

THAT INCLUDES KENDRA LARA WHO LOST HER SIX DISTRICTS SEAT.

, WILLIAM KING AND AND WEBER WILL GO HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR THE JOB.

BEN WEBER JOINS ME NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THERE IS AS YOU KNOW A BIG PLAN BEING SPEARHEADED BY BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER TO PUT HUNDREDS OF NEW TREATMENT BEDS AND HOUSING UNITS AT THE SIGHT OF THE CURRENT HOSPITAL ON THE EDGE OF FRANKLIN PARK.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE PLAN OR NOT AND WHY?

BEN: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES.

IN DISTRICT 6 IF NOT THE CITY.

I SUPPORT THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE SAFE HOUSING SO THEY CAN ACCESS SERVICES AND GET THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE PLAN, I HEARD ABOUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT NEEDLES IN FRANKLIN PARK.

I TOOK A WALKING TOUR.

I SAW THE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

I HAVE BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING THE PROCESS AND I THINK THAT THE ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW ARE I THINK THIS IS A REGIONWIDE ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A REGIONAL SOLUTION.

BUT IN THE PLAN IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AT FRANKLIN PARK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE REGIONAL APPROACH.

IT IS NOT CLEAR THE SCIENCE SUPPORTS THE KIND OF PROPOSAL THEY HAVE NOW, WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY TO LIVE ALONGSIDE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL USING SUBSTANCES HEARD THE BOSTON GLOBE WAS REPORTING FROM ADMINISTRATORS WHO SAID IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THOSE POPULATIONS ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN THE PLAN OR FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE LIVING ON FRANKLIN PARK AND NEAR THESE TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTED AND THAT THE EFFECTS OF IT ARE GOING TO BE MITIGATED.

I AM IN FAVOR OF SOME FORM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CENTERS GOING INTO THAT AREA, BUT THE PLAN AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

ADAM: JUST SO I AM A CLEAR, YOU APPROVE OF THE IDEA IN PRINCIPLE, BUT THE CURRENT PLAN YOU DO NOT SUPPORT.

BEN: BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD SO FAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PLAN IS TOO BIG AND DOES NOT INCLUDE A REGIONAL APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE.

I HAVE NOT HEARD FEEDBACK ON HOW THE PLANS BY THE MEIR TO REESTABLISH LONG ISLAND WOULD IMPACT THIS PROPOSAL.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THEY'’RE GOING TO MITIGATE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY.

I DO NOT THINK ONE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THIS BURDEN ALONE.

ADAM: YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT, WILLIAM KING, YOU BOTH CITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS ANOTHER KEY AREA OF NEED FOR THE CITY.

CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF ONE CONCRETE STEP YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY TAKING TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT IS NOT TAKING AT THE MOMENT?

BEN: ONE IS EXPANDING THE CITY HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WITH MIXED IMMIGRATION STATUS.

I WOULD ALSO ADVOCATE FOR A RIGHT TO COUNSEL ANYONE INVOLVED IN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO DO TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSING AND MAKE EXISTING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

I DO SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL ENACTED REVISIONS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.

I CERTAINLY WANT TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE TO MAKE SURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GETTING BUILT.

ADAM: REQUIREMENT BUILDERS TO BUILD A HIGHER NUMBER OF UNITS?

BEN: CORRECT.

I SERVED ON THE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A HIGHER REQUIREMENT FOR THE NUMBER AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE INCREASE OR 13% OF THE UNITS NEEDING TO BE AFFORDABLE TO BE MOVED UP TO 17%.

LOOKING AT THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON TO MAKE SURE DEVELOPERS ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS.

ADAM: YOU AND WILLIAM KING ALSO AGREE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE COUNCIL LESS DENSE LIFE -- DIVISIVE.

HOW CAN ONE COUNCILOR HAVE THAT KIND OF IMPACT?

BEN: AS AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE BEEN IN ADVERSARIAL SITUATIONS FOR 18 YEARS.

I KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DISAGREEING WITH ME IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER AND TO TRY TO USE FACTS AND SCIENCE TO GUIDE ARGUMENTS AND TO GET PRACTICAL GOALS ACCOMPLISHED.

SO I THINK I CAN BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION ON THE CITY COUNCIL .

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE OTHER COUNSELORS IF I AM ELECTED.

ADAM: YOU HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE MAYOR.

YOU SEEM TO AGREE ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POLICY ISSUES.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR AREA WHERE YOU DISAGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR HAS DONE?

WHERE YOU THINK SHE IS GETTING A PARTICULAR TOPIC WRONG?

BEN: I THINK WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN DISTRICT 6 A COUPLE OF ISSUES.

ONE IS THE ROAD REDESIGN ON CENTER STREET IN WEST ROXBURY.

PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE CITY DO NOT FEEL LIKE THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING ADEQUATELY HEARD.

I THINK THE MAYOR CAN DO A BETTER JOB MAKING SURE PEOPLE'’S CONCERNS ARE HEARD.

THAT WOULD BE MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE A STRONG ADVOCATE IN CITY HALL.

ADAM: IN WEST ROXBURY, YOUR TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN TO RECONFIGURE CENTER STREET, DIMINISH AND THE TOTAL REAL ESTATE ALLOCATED FOR CARS AND CREATING BIKE LANES.

THAT PLAN IS ABOUT TO GO AHEAD.

DO YOU THINK IT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO?

BEN: CRESCENT CENTER STREET IN WEST ROXBURY IS DIFFICULT.

-- CROSSING CENTER STREET IN WEST ROXBURY IS DIFFICULT.

THE CITY HAS TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR BEST DREAMS AND THIS LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH IT.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGES.

IF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED WITH SEVERAL THINGS.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES BEING ABLE TO GET AROUND.

TRAFFIC ON CENTER STREET AND ACCESS TO BUSINESSES TO GET THEIR DELIVERIES.

I WILL CERTAINLY ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES TO THE ROAD REDESIGN IF IT CAUSES ANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF IT.

ADAM: THE JOHN DALE BRIAN SCHOOL IS -- IT WOULD SAY IN THE DISTRICT BUT BE MOVED TO WEST ROXBURY.

BEN: THAT IS CORRECT.

ADAM: WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU.

SHE WILL NO LONGER BE THE CITY COUNCILOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK KENDRA LARA'’S LEGACY IS?

BEN: I HOPE HER LEGACY IS THAT SHE BROKE BARRIERS IN DISTRICT 6 AND THAT SHE FOUGHT FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES THAT I BELIEVE IN.

SHE STOOD UP FOR A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THIS CITY AND PROGRESS.

THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING SHE IS REMEMBERED FOR.

MY GOAL WOULD BE TO CONTINUED THE GOOD WORK SHE PUT IN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

ADAM: BEN WEBER, THANK YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION AND GOOD LUCK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

NEXT UP IS THE MAN FACING OFF AGAINST BEN WEBER.

WILLIAM KING IS AN I.T.

DIRECTOR.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

I WANT TO START ON THE SAME TOPIC I STARTED WITH BEN WEBER, WHICH IS THE PLAN TO CREATE THE NEW RECOVERY CAMPUS AT THE SITE OF THE CURRENT HOSPITAL ON THE EDGE OF FRANKLIN PARK.

HUNDREDS OF NEW TREATMENT BEDS, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE?

WILLIAM: I CURRENTLY OPPOSE THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

A HUNDRED TSITSIPAS BEDS -- 850 PLUS BEDS IS TOO MUCH IN ONE AREA AND DOES LITTLE TO SOLVE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM AND JUST RELOCATES OVER TO FRANKLIN PARK.

I EMPATHIZE WITH THE SITUATION.

WE HAVE TO APPROACH IT WITH COMPASSION.

IT IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME.

I HAD A SISTER WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AND EVENTUALLY IT TOOK HER LIFE.

AND SO, IF IT WAS AROUND WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE, I KNOW SHE WOULD BE ON IT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING FOLKS TO SERVICES.

ADAM: IS THERE A SIZE YOU WOULD BE AMENABLE TO WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED?

WILLIAM: I THOUGHT THE 75-100 BEDS WAS REASONABLE.

LET'’S NOT CONCENTRATE EVERYTHING IN ONE AREA.

I THINK IT IS A STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL ISSUE AND REQUIRES A STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL SOLUTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SMALLER POCKETS OF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

THAT WAY THE PROFESSIONALS HAVE MORE ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING BETTER RESULTS.

ADAM: I HAVE TO MOVE ON TO GET INTO MORE TOPICS.

YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT AGREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUGE AREA OF NEED.

WHAT IS A CONCRETE STEP YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CITY TAKE?

WILLIAM: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ELIGIBILITY.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR AID WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING?

PEOPLE ARE MAKING JUST TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY ACROSS THE BOARD TO HELP OUR FAMILIES.

BUT WE ARE PRAISING SO MANY HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY WHEN THEY WANT TO STAY.

WE WANT FOLKS WHO WANT TO COME TO THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT ALSO.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO BOSTON RESIDENTS.

MORE AND THE 30-50% OF THE AMI RANGE.

ADAM: LIKE YOUR OPPONENT, YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE CITY COUNCIL LESS DIVISIVE THAN IT CURRENTLY IS.

HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING IT?

WILLIAM: JUST BRINGING SOME LEADERSHIP.

I AM OF THE MINDSET THAT CAN DISAGREE, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

THAT IS WHEN WE START DELIVERING REAL RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

I AM NOT OF THE MINDSET THAT JUST BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WE HAVE TO STOP TALKING.

WE HAVE TO RESTORE THE FOCUS BACK ON THE RESIDENTS WHO ELECTED US.

ADAM: YOU HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE VOICES ON THE COUNCIL, FRANK BAKER, ERIN MURPHY FOR EXAMPLE.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF IDEOLOGICALLY?

WILLIAM: AS THE COUNCILOR, YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERYONE.

AND REGARDLESS OF PERSONAL BELIEFS OR IDEOLOGY.

WE DO NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT AT LEAST COUNCILOR MURPHY, SHE IS SOMEONE I WANT TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DESERVE SOMEONE WHO WILL WORK WITH THEM.

THE WAY I SEE MYSELF IS I AM A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

I WILL ALWAYS BE A DEMOCRAT.

AND I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRATIC VALUES.

ADAM: I THINK A LOT OF JOURNALISTS HAVE CHARACTERIZED YOU AT THE MORE MODERATE CANDIDATE VIS-À-VIS BEN WEBER.

IS THAT FAIR CHARACTERIZATION?

WILLIAM: I DO NOT LIKE LABELS.

I THINK I AM BODY A LOT OF DIFFERENT VALUES.

I HAVE A PROGRESSIVE BELIEF.

I'’D LIBERAL BELIEFS.

SOME MAY SAY I HAVE SOME MODERATE BELIEFS.

BUT I THINK I TEND TO BE THAT MORE TRADITIONAL LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

ADAM: WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE BIG PLAN TO RECONFIGURE WEST ROXBURY ROAD, WHICH WILL REINVENT CENTER STREET?

I THINK IT IS ABOUT TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

WILLIAM: I THINK THAT WE ALL WANT A SAFER CENTER STREET.

MY PROBLEM WITH IT WAS THE PROCESS.

WE DID NOT HAVE MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY PROCESS.

A LOT OF RESIDENTS FELT THEY WERE NOT BEING HEARD.

AND THEY HAD SOME CONCERNS AROUND DOUBLE PARKING AND ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THE PARKING LIMITS ON CENTER STREET?

IF YOU STILL HAVE DOUBLE PARKING AND NOW YOU HAVE ONE TRAVELING, WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO TO THE TRAFFIC THAT SPILLS OVER TO SIDESTREETS?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SPEED BUMPS TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC?

ADAM: GIVEN THAT YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS, DO YOU THINK THE PLAN WILL MAKE WEST ROXBURY AND CENTER STREET BETTER?

WILLIAM: IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO WORK ON THE REDESIGN, SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT IS GOING IN AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS.

ADAM: IN A FORUM THAT I WAS READING ABOUT INVOLVING YOU AND BEN WEBER AND KENDRA LARA, YOU NOTED THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE BORN IN BOSTON AND GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT.

AND I GETTING THAT RIGHT?

WILLIAM: YES.

ADAM: WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

WILLIAM: BECAUSE I FEEL I HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP IN THE CITY.

I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR RESIDENTS.

I KNOW WHERE THE CITY HAS BEEN, WHERE WE WANT TO BE HEADED AND WHERE WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO.

I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL STRUGGLES THAT MANY FACE.

I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT LIVED PAYCHECK-TO-PAYCHECK.

A MOTHER WHO WAS DISABLED AND CANNOT WORK.

A FATHER WHO WORKED MULTIPLE JOBS JUST TO SURVIVE.

I'’VE EXPERIENCE THE CROWDED CLASSROOMS, THE LACK OF RESOURCES AND DISPARITIES IN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

I'’VE EXPERIENCE THE VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA CAUSED BY ADDICTION FIRSTHAND.

I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND THAT IS WHAT SHAPED ME AND WHO I AM TODAY.

I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS TO REPRESENT THEM.

ADAM: WHAT DO YOU THINK KENDRA LARA'’S LEGACY WILL BE WHEN SHE LEAVES THE CITY COUNCIL?

WILLIAM: I THINK SHE WAS A STEWARD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SHE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ISSUES AND ADVOCATED FOR THE DISTRICT AND SOFT CHANGE.

-- SOUGHT CHANGE.

SHE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT VOICE ON THE CONSOLE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THE VOTERS DECIDE.

ADAM: THANK YOU.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE DRAMA AND DYSFUNCTION COMING OUT OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION.

SHANNON O'’BRIEN IS NOW SUING THE STATE.

THE COMMISSION HAS CONTINUED TO REGULATE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME BIG CHANGES.

THE ACTING CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AVA CALLENDER CONCEPCION JOINS ME NOW.

YOU JUST COMPLETED THIS BIG REVAMP OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE INDUSTRY.

I KNOW SOME OF WHAT YOU DID IS AIMED AT IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW LAW INVOLVING STING EQUITY IN THE INDUSTRY.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE STATE WILL BE DOING DIFFERENTLY AND --?

AVA: IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE CREATION OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION IN 2017.

IT HITS A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT GIVES THE COMMISSION AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT OVER AGREEMENTS.

THOSE ARE THE AGREEMENTS POTENTIAL LICENSEES HAVE TO ENTER INTO WITH THE AREA, THE TOWN OR THE CITY WHERE THEY WANT TO BE LOCATED.

THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD EQUITY REQUIREMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE'’RE THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE EQUITY BAKED INTO OUR STATUTE.

BUT THAT DID NOT APPLY TO MUNICIPALITIES.

THIS NEW LAW REQUIRES MUNICIPALITIES TO ENACT EQUITY PROVISIONS WITHIN THEIR LICENSING PROCESS, WITHIN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH CANNABIS ENTITIES GOING FORWARD TO INCREASED SOCIAL EQUITY PARTICIPANTS WITHIN THE SPACE.

THE OTHER THING -- THERE ARE TWO MORE THINGS.

ONE IS SOCIAL CONSUMPTION.

THE LAST THING IS AROUND SUITABILITY.

THIS LAW CREATES MORE ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.

ADAM: WHEN IT COMES TO THE EQUITY PIECE, THE IDEA WAS THAT THE INDUSTRY WAS GOING TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.

AND THAT HAS NOT EXACTLY PLAYED OUT THE WAY PEOPLE HAD HOPED.

AVA: THAT IS A FAIR STATEMENT TO MAKE.

WE HAVE MADE STRIDES IN THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION WITH THE CREATION OF HER SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM WHICH IS FOR COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS.

THERE ARE EXPEDITED PROCESSES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THERE WAS MORE THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND THAT WAS THE CRUX OF OUR ADVOCACY.

ADAM: YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL CONSUMPTION WHICH I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT LAST.

SOCIAL CONSUMPTION INVOLVES BEING ABLE TO GO TO A CAFÉ TYPESETTING, USE CANNABIS.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THAT?

AVA: IT IS NOT HAPPENING YET, BUT THERE IS A WORKING GROUP WORKING DILIGENTLY TO COME TO THE FULL COMMISSION WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THIS SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

IT IS BEING LED BY TWO OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

THEY HAVE DONE HEARINGS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

THEY HAVE VISITED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THEY ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL CONSUMPTION SPACE AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED HERE.

CALIFORNIA, COLORADO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO LICENSEES.

WE ARE MINDFUL ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF THAT AND MAKING SURE IT IS FEASIBLE FOR EQUITY PARTICIPANTS TO CAUSE IT WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAMS OR CERTIFIED.

ADAM: HOW SOON MIGHT THOSE TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENTS RULE OUT?

WHAT IS A REAL-LIFE STICK TIMEFRAME -- REALISTIC TIMEFRAME?

AVA: DEFINITELY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHEN SOMEONE MIGHT COMMENCE OPERATIONS I CANNOT GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE.

ADAM: I THINK CHAPTER 180, AND I RIGHT THAT INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE ABLE TO OPT IN OR OPT OUT?

AVA: THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED BY THE FORMER ITERATION OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION.

WE REFERRED TO IT AS THE PILOT PROGRAM.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NO LONGER BE A PART OF THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD, BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU THE LOGISTICS OF THAT.

ADAM: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT FORMER CHAIR SHANNON O'’BRIEN WHO WAS SUSPENDED BY TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG.

THE CHARACTERIZATION SHE MADE ABOUT THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION AND THE LAWSUIT SHE FILED, SHE CALLED THE PLACE YOU REPRESENT AN AGENCY WHICH IS RECOGNIZED TO BE BROKEN AND FEELING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE INTEREST OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF ENTRENCHED BUREAUCRACY AND INFIGHTING.

WILLIAM: I CAN ONLY -- AVA: I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

I HAVE BEEN REALLY VOCAL ABOUT MY OWN INITIATIVES AND PARITIES.

MAKING SURE WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT EQUITY IN A WAY THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE REALIZE THAT WHEN WE SAY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS IS NOT A FOREGONE TIME.

IT IS SOMETHING I'’VE BEEN THE LEAD AS I AM IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE REGULATE AND MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT CREATED COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES.

CREATING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SPACE THEY HAVE A READY BEEN A PART OF.

THAT IS ALSO A WAY WE ARE COMBATING THE LEGACY MARKETPLACE.

WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST IMPACTED ARE HEARD.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS IF IT WAS NOT FOR STAFF INVOLVEMENT AND HAVING PEOPLE COMING TO THE TABLE AND WORKING IN A COHESIVE WAY.

ADAM: THERE IS A PUSH IN THE WAKE OF SHANNON O'’BRIEN'’S SUSPENSION FOR AN INCREASE IN OVERSIGHT, INCLUDING POSSIBLY AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL?

AVA: IT IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

IT ALSO SHOWS THE NEED FOR INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION.

THERE IS INCREASED ATTENTION ON THE AGENCY ITSELF.

I THINK IT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MORE AND GET THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN AGENCY AND INDUSTRY THAT IS GROWING SO THE ATTENTION MAKES SENSE.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN LAYERS HERE.

THERE ARE THREE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS WHO HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE COMMISSIONERS.

THE TREASURER, THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BELOW THAT, YOU HAVE THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS.

AND THEN WE HAVE STAFF AND SO FORTH.

WHEN I WOULD SAY TO THAT IS, WE ALSO TALKED TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I CREATED THE OUTREACH STRATEGY WHICH WAS GEARED TOWARD MAKING SURE WE HAVE A FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, THAT WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

THE STATE OF CANNABIS EVENT, WE MAKE SURE WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND THE LEGISLATURE LISTENING IN THE PASSAGE OF 180 IS TELLING.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND THERE ARE -- WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX WHO ARE THE AUTHORS OF THE CORRESPONDENCE YOU REFERENCED.

ADAM: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

AVA CALLENDER CONCEPCION, THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

THE WEBSITE IS WGBH.ORG.

FOR NOW, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.