Marijuana Businesses Sue Boston Suburb Over ‘Impact Fees’

A Massachusetts suburb unlawfully charged cannabis businesses nearly $2 million in “community impact fees,” a lawsuit alleges.

Ascend Mass LLC and other cannabis businesses sued the city of Newton over fees charged under a state law allowing towns to offset the cost of hosting such establishments.

• Community impact fees must be related to the cost the operation of a marijuana establishment imposes, but Newton’s fees “were not reasonably related,” the complaint said.
• The businesses claim Newton hasn’t incurred any costs on their behalf.
• Ascend’s host community agreement provided for the company to turn over 3% of its profits to the ...