MA: Amesbury Mayor, Police Oppose Marijuana Delivery

Katelyn Baker;3282737 said:

Amesbury — A request to deliver medicinal marijuana within city limits has met opposition from local officials.

In a letter, RBAB limited partnership owner Robert Bendetson, whose building houses the Alternative Therapies Group medical marijuana cultivation site at 10 Industrial Way, asked the city to amend its medical marijuana overlay district to allow for delivery of the drug to qualifying patients who don’t have access to transportation.

“ATG regularly receives patient requests for home delivery service, many of whom are shut-ins or otherwise unable to drive,” Bendetson wrote. “ATG is confident that they can provide a secure home delivery service, in full compliance with state regulations. All loading of delivery vehicles will be conducted securely inside the facility. Furthermore, all vehicles will be housed within the enclosed building.”

After taking up the issue at its meeting Feb. 27, the Planning Board asked for letters of recommendation from the Police Department and building inspector Dennis Nadeau, and any other supporting documentation from city officials before continuing its debate March 13.

While Nadeau did not respond directly, Mayor Ken Gray voiced his reluctance to grant Bendetson’s request in a written statement.

“Beacon Hill is still a long way from sorting out the implementation of recreational marijuana, and I can’t see a reason for Amesbury to address the issue of medical marijuana delivery prematurely when it really should be examined within the context of the bigger picture,” Gray wrote.

Since patients who are physically unable to leave their homes can already receive deliveries from medical marijuana dispensaries, Gray said he would like to give the city’s newly created Recreational Marijuana Committee the opportunity to consider the request “over the next year or so.”

“We shouldn’t rush to make a decision right now,” Gray wrote. “We need to get it right.”

Citing the fact that federal law places marijuana as a Schedule I substance on the controlled substances list, along with heroin and LSD, interim Police Chief William Scholtz voiced his own hesitation in allowing delivery from within city limits in a written statement.

Adding that only Boston and Greenfield now allow home delivery of marijuana, and given that the state itself is working through the legality of marijuana’s medical and recreational use, Scholtz concluded he could not recommend the city allow the practice.

News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Amesbury Mayor, Police Oppose Marijuana Delivery
Author: Jim Sullivan
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