Massachusetts Cannabis Dispensaries File Suit Over Shipping Restrictions

LOS ANGELES- Two cannabis dispensaries in Massachusetts, Island Time on Martha’s Vineyard and The Green Lady Dispensary on Nantucket Island, have filed a lawsuit against state regulators. The suit challenges restrictions that prevent them from shipping cannabis inventory by boat, endangering their operations due to their island locations.

Filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, the lawsuit targets the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). The dispensaries argue that current regulations and federal laws prohibiting the transport of cannabis through federal waters are crippling their ability to maintain adequate inventory.

Island Time has faced supply challenges since its previous supplier, Fine Fettle, announced its closure. Owner Geoff Rose emphasized the critical situation, having already closed temporarily due to low inventory. Attorney Tim Swain, representing both companies, seeks CCC permission to use private boats for cannabis shipments from the mainland. However, even with CCC approval, the U.S. Coast Guard could seize shipments due to cannabis’s federal illegality.

This logistical issue is not unique to Massachusetts. Dispensaries in Alaska have used creative solutions, such as transporting cannabis in suitcases on commercial flights, to overcome similar obstacles.