The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) may be leaving an enormous amount of money on the table, according to the results of a recent investigation.
The state’s Inspector General (OIG) this week sent a letter to current CCC leadership detailing failures to collect cannabis licensing fees. The investigation, sparked by an anonymous tip received last year, determined that the CCC failed to collect about $550,000 in fees for license extensions from August 2022 to August 2024. The agency also allegedly did not collect provisional license fees during this period, which the OIG said was at one point invoiced at $1.2 million.
“While the OIG’s investigation did not find fraud, it does suggest poor business practices and oversight,” the OIG wrote.
The investigation did note that the CCC, now under new leadership, has taken steps to update its payment systems and go after previously uncollected amounts. But it still recommended the CCC perform an audit to ensure all fees are paid and that proper authorization is used in waiving any other fees.
The OIG also recommended the CCC ensure that its licensing platform has the appropriate controls that allow it to accurately track license extensions, collect prorated fees, and collect provisional license fees.
