Nantucket Cannabis Panel Sets Multi-Year Road Map for Social Consumption Review

NANTUCKET -- March 19, 2026, Nantucket's Cannabis Advisory Committee opened a formal planning process for social cannabis consumption venues, signaling no opt-in vote before 2027 at the earliest. Meeting remotely on March 19, the committee, identified in roll call as Chair Barry, Joe, Dawn, and Abby, voted unanimously to approve four sets of meeting minutes dating back to October 2023 before turning to the main business: a two-page regulatory overview prepared by KP Law attorney Nicole Costanza on the Cannabis Control Commission's newly finalized social consumption rules. Chair Barry said town administration, led by Town Administrator Libby, wants "about a year" to watch how social consumption unfolds in other Massachusetts communities before committing to an opt-in. The committee sketched an informal timeline of summer interdepartmental meetings with fire, police, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, and the Select Board, followed by public forums in September or October, with any Town Meeting articles likely sponsored by the Select Board. The panel also acknowledged that cannabis retailer Act Natural has been advertising delivery services online, which Chair Barry said is "in direct conflict with the bylaw of the town," with town counsel now involved in the matter.