MARIJUANA

Cannabis sales in the state have grossed more than $10B since first dispensaries opened in 2018.

We discuss the surveyed impacts of legalized marijuana with researcher Faith English, check out the Chester Theater's final play of the season "Dear Alien," and chat with Mr. Universe about a newly discovered super earth.

A federal state voucher program is weighted to benefit private schools, communities receive $100 million in natural gas investments from utilities companies despite moving away from fossil fuels, Berkshire County loses another dairy farm, and South Hadley considers lifting a ban on marijuana establishments.

Given the unique chance to reshape the Cannabis Control Commission, on Tuesday Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey tapped a former revenue commissioner who more recently has been steering the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to chair the new-look, downsized panel.The governor appointed Christopher Harding as chair of the new three-person CCC — and also picked as commissioners western Mass. economic development official Xiomara DeLobato and cannabis law advisor Anthony Wilson.

House Speaker Ron Mariano, traditionally a fierce critic of the ballot initiative process, signaled a major shift last week by expressing a willingness to negotiate on one of the state’s most high-stakes and debated proposals.

Carrie Saldo and panelists discuss ballot initiatives to ban social media use among teens and recreational marijuana use, hurdles faced by a housing authority to open up affordable housing, nuclear arms production in Pittsfield and more.

This week Massachusetts state executive and Legislative budget officials are expected to release the consensus tax revenue estimate, a figure that is used in fiscal year 2027 budget proposals.

Today on The Rundown, panelists discuss legal social cannabis consumption coming to Mass., a lack in racial diversity in western Mass. public offices, and stalled development of Sublime Systems expansion in Holyoke following a grant rescission.

Massachusetts Senate leaders say they’re nearing a deal on the supplemental budget and preparing to take up the House-passed cannabis reform bill before their holiday break begins Wednesday.

Shannon O'Brien, who won a legal battle to overturn her dismissal as the chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, ran her first meeting Wednesday since returning to the agency.