HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATE HOUSE. BOSTON 0 2 133-1054

HANNAH E . KANE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
11th WORCESTER DISTRICT
SHREWSBURY AND WESTBOROUGH

Committees:
Ways and Means
Public Health
Cannabis Policy
STATE HOUSE. ROOM 167
TEL. (617) 722-2810

February 18, 2020

Hannah.Kane@MAhouse .gov

Secretary Michael Heffernan
Executive Office of Administration and Finance
State House Room 373
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Secretary Heffernan,
Thank you for your testimony at the February 11, 2020 Ways and Means Hearing. I write to
follow up on my inquiry relative to the Marijuana Regulation Fund (MRF) . I am seeking a
detailed overview of the uses of the MRF in FY19 and FY20 and the planned uses of the funding
as outlined in the Governor's FY21 budeet.
As you are aware, the MRF covers the budget of the Cannabis Control Commission and
applicable expenses within the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Remaining funding shall be expended for five specific uses as described below in the enabling
legislation :
Section 14. Marijuana Regulation Fund
(a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund , to be
known as the Marijuana Regulation Fund. It shall, subject to appropriation, consist of all monies
received on account of the commonwealth as a result of applications for and licensing of marijuana
establishments, all civil penalties received for violations of this chapter, revenue generated by the
state tax imposed by section 2 of chapter 64N of the General Laws and interest earned or other
income on balances in the fund.
(b) Money in the fund shall be subject to appropriation . Money in the fund shall be expended for the
implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter by the commission and by the
department of agricultural resources for the implementation, administration and enforcement of
sections 116 to 123, inclusive, of chapter 128 and the provision of pesticide control pursuant to
chapter 1328. Thereafter, money in the fund shall be expended for: (i) public and behavioral health
including but not limited to, evidence-based and evidence-informed substance use prevention and
treatment and substance use early intervention services in a recurring grant for school districts or
community coalitions who operate on the strategic prevention framework or similar structure for
youth substance use education and prevention; (ii) public safety; (iii) municipal police training; (iv)
the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund established in section 2G of chapter 111 ; and (v)
programming for restorative justice, jail diversion , workforce development, industry specific technical
assistance, and mentoring services for economically-disadvantaged persons in communities

 disproportionately impacted by high rates of arrest and incarceration for marijuana offenses pursuant
to chapter 94C.
Based on my review of the MRF, it appears that is has simply been used as an offset for existing
uses in the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services {4512-0200) and no new programming has
been funded in this line-item. In addition, please provide me with a list of line-items that
received the off-set funding and how those funds complied with the MRF intended uses.

Sincerely,

Hannah E. Kane
State Representative
11th Worcester District