Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments

The Somerville City Council has adopted two key items of legislation regarding adult marijuana. The first item of legislation, approved on November 8, 2018 and revised June 11, 2020 and October 27, 2022, created a licensing procedure that requires any type of marijuana establishment to obtain a license from the Somerville Licensing Commission. The licensing procedure created a priority application period that applies to certain types of applicants for five years (until November 2023). The second item of legislation, approved on December 12, 2019, created a Cannabis Establishment use category in zoning. It established the districts in which different types of marijuana establishments are permitted and the criteria that the permitting authority will consider when reviewing marijuana establishment proposals.

All types of marijuana establishments are also required to be licensed by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). The CCC requires prospective marijuana establishments to complete the local approval process before beginning their licensing process. The first step in the local approval process is to apply for a Host Community Agreement (HCA) through the Mayor’s Marijuana Advisory Committee (MAC). If an HCA is granted the next steps would be to pursue zoning relief, if necessary, and a license from the Somerville Licensing Commission. There are links on this page with more information on the legislative items that have been approved and the local procedures.

Please be advised that the Mayor entered an Executive Order on November 29, 2023 establishing a moratorium on new retail marijuana Host Community Agreements in the City of Somerville.  The Order, which can be found here, will remain in effect for 18 months, and is subject to further extension.   

Approved Documents

• Zoning Ordinance (adopted December 12, 2019; amended December 9, 2021)
• Licensing Ordinance (adopted November 8, 2018; amended June 11, 2020)
  • Ord 2022-22 (ordained on October 25, 2022) extended the priority period from 4 years to 5
• MAC Ranking Criteria (revised March 31, 2021)
• Executive Order – Host Community Agreement Moratorium (entered November 29, 2023)

Guidance Documents

• Instructions for Applying for a Host Community Agreement (HCA) and License To Operate an Adult-Use Marijuana Establishment
• Zoning Advice for Prospective Cannabis Establishments
• Next Steps for Host Community Agreement (HCA) Recipients

Marijuana Advisory Committee Membership (updated November 6, 2023)

• Matthew Mitchell, Prevention Services Manager, Health and Human Services
• Jeff Digregorio, Somerville Police Lt.
• Sarah Lewis, Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning
• Rachel Nadkarni, Director of Economic Development

Any questions about the MAC or its process should be emailed to Michael Potere at licensing@somervillema.gov.

Marijuana Advisory Committee Recommendations

• MAC Round One Recommendation (9/18/2019)
• MAC Round Two Recommendation (10/8/2020)
• MAC Round Three Recommendation (3/1/2021) and Mayor Curtatone's Response (3/5/2021)
• MAC Round Four Recommendation (3/31/2021)
• MAC Round Five Recommendation (7/1/2021)
• MAC Recommendation regarding Botanica (7/27/2021)
• MAC Round Six Recommendation (11/5/2021)
• MAC Round Seven Recommendation (7/15/2022)
• MAC Round Eight Recommendation (11/19/2022)
• MAC Round Nine Recommendation (11/19/2022)
• MAC Round Ten Recommendation (2/8/2022)
• MAC Round Eleven Recommendation (10/13/2023)

Recreational Host Community Agreement Recipients

Other Resources

Presentations and Public Meetings

• City Council Meeting (6/11/2020)
• Legislative Matters Meeting (6/4/2020)
• Legislative Matters Meeting (5/21/2020)
• Legislative Matters Meeting (5/7/2020)
• Licensing Commission and Potential Applicant Presentation (2/11/2019 and 2/13/2019)
• Land Use Committee Meeting Video (11/27/2018) - at start
• Land Use Committee Meeting Video (12/4/2018) - 2 hours and 58 min in
• Background Information
• April 12 and 19 Presentations
• Adult-Use Marijuana Survey
• Land Use Committee Hearing Presentation
• Legislative Matters Committee Presentation
• Land Use Committee Hearing Video (9/6/2018) - 2 hours and 45 min in
• Legislative Matters Committee Video (9/20/2018) - 1 hour and 9 min in
• Legislative Matters  Video (10/02/2018) - 10 min in
• Land Use Committee Meeting Video (10/16/2018) - 2 hours and 30 min in
• Legislative Matters  Video (10/18/2018) - 30 min in
• Land Use Committee Meeting  Video (10/30/2018) - 1 hour and 57 min in
• Legislative Matters  Video (11/1/2018) - at start

Previous Versions Archive

• MAC Ranking Criteria (revised March 28, 2019)
• Licensing Ordinance (11/8/2018)
• Approved Zoning Language (12/13/2018)
• Approved Zoning Overlay Map (12/6/2018)
• Proposed Overlay District
• Overlay Amendment (10/30/2018)
• Overlay Amendment (11/27/2018)
• Ward Maps (11/27/2018)
  • Ward 1
  • Ward 2
  • Ward 3
  • Ward 4
  • Ward 5
  • Ward 6
  • Ward 7
• Proposed Licensing Ordinance
• SCO License Update (9/18/2018)
• SCO License Update (11/01/2018)
• SCO License Final (11/08/2018)
• Proposed Zoning Ordinance
• Zoning Ordinance Update (10/30/2018)