Cannabis Companies Sue Towns Over Past HCA Fees – No Extra Cops, Trash Pickups, or Rehab Workers Needed When Dispensaries Open

One of the most recent lawsuits in this regard has been initiated by Berkshire Roots, a Pittsfield-based cannabis company. On August 18, 2023, Berkshire Roots filed a lawsuit in Berkshire Superior Court seeking to recover $440,000 in Community Impact Fees that it had paid to Pittsfield over several years as part of its host community agreement (HCA). According to JD Supra reports, the lawsuit alleges that Pittsfield officials have failed to identify any genuine “impacts” the company has had on the local community. This legal action underscores a significant issue within the state’s cannabis legislation.