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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2986 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 192
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to increased data collection.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2986 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 192
By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 192) of
Marcus S. Vaughn relative to increased data collection in research agenda of public health
impacts of cannabis. Cannabis Policy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to increased data collection.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 17 of chapter 94G of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2striking clause (a) and inserting in place thereof the following:
3 (a) The commission shall develop a research agenda in order to understand the social and
4economic trends of marijuana in the commonwealth, to inform future decisions that would aid in
5the closure of the illicit marketplace and to inform the commission on the public health impacts
6of marijuana. The research agenda shall include, but not be limited to: (i) patterns of use,
7methods of consumption, sources of purchase and general perceptions of marijuana among
8minors, among college and university students and among adults; (ii) incidents of impaired
9driving, hospitalization and use of other health care services related to marijuana use, including a
10report of the state of the science around identifying a quantifiable level of marijuana-induced
11impairment of motor vehicle operation and a report on the financial impacts on the state
12healthcare system of hospitalizations related to marijuana; (iii) marijuana-related Emergency 2 of 2
13Department visits and hospitalizations including but not limited to those accessing psychiatric
14emergency services and care for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome; (iv) prevalence of
15cannabis-induced psychosis and cannabis use disorder in Massachusetts; (v) testing for THC and
16THC metabolites, including 11-OH THC, in all suicides and homicide perpetrators; (vi)
17prevalence of marijuana use by those in the juvenile justice population, as measured by testing
18for THC and 11-OH THC, at the time of entry into the juvenile justice system; (vii) economic
19and fiscal impacts for state and local governments including the impact of legalization on the
20production and distribution of marijuana in the illicit market and the costs and benefits to state
21and local revenue; (viii) ownership and employment trends in the marijuana industry examining
22participation by racial, ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups, including identification of barriers
23to participation in the industry; (ix) a market analysis examining the expansion or contraction of
24the illicit marketplace and the expansion or contraction of the legal marketplace, including
25estimates and comparisons of pricing and product availability in both markets; (x) a compilation
26of data on the number of incidents of discipline in schools, including suspensions, expulsions, or
27diversion programs resulting from marijuana use or possession of marijuana or marijuana
28products; and (xi) any Massachusetts assessment of youth substance use shall include questions
29about the types and consumption methods of marijuana products being used, frequency of
30marijuana use, and marijuana-related health effects, including but not limited to psychosis
31symptoms, mood disorders, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome; and (xii) a compilation of
32data on the number of civil penalties, arrests, prosecutions, incarcerations and sanctions imposed
33for violations of chapter 94C for possession, distribution or trafficking of marijuana or marijuana
34products, including the age, race, gender, country of origin, state geographic region and average
35sanctions of the persons charged.