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SD 892

An Act to create Cannabis career pathways for justice-involved individuals

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pat Jehlen

Creates formal cannabis career pathways for justice-involved individuals, via a study and a pilot program for in-prison, probation, and post-release training and employment.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 892

Summary: Massachusetts Senate Bill SD 892

Bill Title: An Act to create Cannabis career pathways for justice-involved individuals
Sponsor: Patricia D. Jehlen (primary)
Status: House concurred
Introduced: March 10, 2025
Docket: Senate Docket No. 892 (Senate No. 84)
Context: Similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 (Senate No. 52)

Purpose and Intent

The bill aims to foster employment opportunities in the cannabis industry for justice-involved individuals. It seeks to build a formal framework for education and training tied to correctional settings and post-release contexts, with the goal of creating managed career pathways that support reintegration and reduce barriers to employment in the cannabis sector.

Key Provisions

  1. Study and Recommendations (Part (a)(i))

    • The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), in consultation with:
      • Cannabis Advisory Board
      • Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board
      • Department of Correction
      • Massachusetts Sheriffs Association
      • Office of Probation
      • University of Massachusetts
      • Executive Office of Economic Development
      • Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
    • must conduct a study on programs and partnerships to encourage employment of justice-involved individuals in the cannabis industry.
    • The study should consider training and educational programs conducted within:
      • Houses of correction, jails, and prisons
      • As part of probation or parole
      • After release
    • Findings must be reported to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2026.

  2. Pilot Program for Cannabis Career Pathways (Part (a)(ii))

    • The CCC (in coordination with the same set of agencies and partners) must develop a pilot program to create career pathways in the cannabis industry for:
      • Incarcerated individuals
      • Individuals on probation and parole
      • Formerly justice-involved individuals
    • The pilot program must be developed no later than December 31, 2027.

Implementation and Timeline

  • 2025 – Bill introduced (March 10) and referred to the Cannabis Policy committee; House concurred on a later action.
  • By Dec 31, 2026 – Completion and reporting of the study’s findings.
  • By Dec 31, 2027 – Development of the pilot program for cannabis career pathways as described.

Affected Parties

  • Justice-involved individuals, including:
    • Incarcerated individuals
    • Individuals on probation or parole
    • Formerly justice-involved individuals
  • Public and private entities involved in cannabis policy, workforce development, corrections, probation, and higher education (notably the University of Massachusetts and state economic/labor offices).

Potential Impacts

  • Provides a structured path for training and employment in the cannabis industry for people with justice-system involvement.
  • Enables in-prison, jail, or probation-based training opportunities and post-release employment support.
  • May inform broader policy and practical approaches to workforce inclusion within the cannabis sector if the pilot is successful.

Next Steps

  • Monitor committee actions and any amendments.
  • If enacted, implementation would follow the study’s recommendations and the pilot program rollout, subject to funding and further regulatory guidance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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