Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Danvers town officials are considering a temporary ban on allowing recreational marijuana shops in town through December 2018. The moratorium would allow more time for the town to address the potential impacts of recreational marijuana in Danvers, consider the Cannabis Control Board's regulations on marijuana, and consider adopting new zoning provisions for the sale of marijuana, according to Article 39 on the May Town Meeting warrant. Currently, the town's zoning bylaws do not address "marijuana establishments" in Danvers.
The proposed moratorium would also allow time for the town to decide whether it should allow on-site consumption of marijuana products, or if it should impose an outright ban on the establishment of such shops.
"This buys us time to have the conversation about what makes sense for Danvers," said Town Manager Steve Bartha at an April Board of Selectmen meeting.
Director of Planning and Human Services Karen Nelson said the moratorium gives the Planning Board, planning staff and the community an extra six months to figure out how to approach the question of how the town can best implement, or not, the recent legalization of recreational marijuana.
"We want to find out what the state is going to do ... there's a lot of moving parts still that don't have any meat to them," Nelson said. "While the state is working on their end, we'll be looking at it on how to best approach it."
These efforts follow the outcome of a ballot initiative in the November 2016 election, in which Massachusetts voted to approve the legalization of recreational marijuana. About 1.7 million residents voted in support of its legalization, and 1.5 million residents voted against it. The Act, which allows adults 21 and over to possess and use limited amounts of marijuana and grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their homes, went into effect Dec. 15.
Danvers, however, voted 'no' on ballot Question 4. Legalization garnered 7,253 votes in favor and 8,006 votes in opposition.
Since the 2016 election, efforts to put a temporary halt, or outright ban, on the sale of it have been underway in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Some towns, such as Westborough, Mass., have already passed bans on the retail sale of the drug; Middleton, Boxford, Topsfield and Beverly are among the nearby towns that have a similar moratorium article on the agenda for their respective town meetings.
Shortly after the November election, the state passed new legislation delaying the opening of retail marijuana shops until mid-2018, six months later than anticipated. This moratorium would increase that delay in Danvers by at least another six months.
"[The new legislation] has given the state the opportunity to get all of its ducks in a row to know how to proceed, so the communities know how they can move forward with this regulation," Nelson said.
She added that Danvers took similar measures in 2012 when the state approved medical marijuana shops.
Although a 2014 Town Meeting approved a registered medical marijuana overlay zone in two sections of town - Cherry Hill Industrial Park and Danvers Industrial Park - no dispensaries have opened.
Among other things, the amended Act requires the town to vote by ballot on whether it will issue licenses for retail marijuana shops, and - should the town allow licenses for such facilities - it must vote by ballot no sooner than the next biennial state election, November 2018, to determine whether to allow on-site consumption of marijuana products.
During the review of a draft version of the article, Selectman David Mills said the extra time makes sense for the purpose of being careful and cautious with how new regulations are implemented in town.
"I don't like marijuana," he said. "In 49 years of being a lawyer, I have seen children destroyed and it just frightens me. But then again, I'm not the only voter. The voters of Massachusetts have a different view than my own conservative one."
The Selectmen approved the draft of Article 39 as it was written, only asking for clarification of the moratorium's timeline.
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing May 1 at 7 p.m., at the Danvers Senior Center, where residents will be allowed to weigh in on the subject or pose questions to the Planning Board.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Danvers considers delay on recreational marijuana shops - News - Danvers Herald - Danvers, MA
Author: Mary Byrne
Contact: Contact Us - Danvers Herald - Danvers, MA
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Danvers Herald: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Danvers, MA
The proposed moratorium would also allow time for the town to decide whether it should allow on-site consumption of marijuana products, or if it should impose an outright ban on the establishment of such shops.
"This buys us time to have the conversation about what makes sense for Danvers," said Town Manager Steve Bartha at an April Board of Selectmen meeting.
Director of Planning and Human Services Karen Nelson said the moratorium gives the Planning Board, planning staff and the community an extra six months to figure out how to approach the question of how the town can best implement, or not, the recent legalization of recreational marijuana.
"We want to find out what the state is going to do ... there's a lot of moving parts still that don't have any meat to them," Nelson said. "While the state is working on their end, we'll be looking at it on how to best approach it."
These efforts follow the outcome of a ballot initiative in the November 2016 election, in which Massachusetts voted to approve the legalization of recreational marijuana. About 1.7 million residents voted in support of its legalization, and 1.5 million residents voted against it. The Act, which allows adults 21 and over to possess and use limited amounts of marijuana and grow up to 12 marijuana plants in their homes, went into effect Dec. 15.
Danvers, however, voted 'no' on ballot Question 4. Legalization garnered 7,253 votes in favor and 8,006 votes in opposition.
Since the 2016 election, efforts to put a temporary halt, or outright ban, on the sale of it have been underway in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Some towns, such as Westborough, Mass., have already passed bans on the retail sale of the drug; Middleton, Boxford, Topsfield and Beverly are among the nearby towns that have a similar moratorium article on the agenda for their respective town meetings.
Shortly after the November election, the state passed new legislation delaying the opening of retail marijuana shops until mid-2018, six months later than anticipated. This moratorium would increase that delay in Danvers by at least another six months.
"[The new legislation] has given the state the opportunity to get all of its ducks in a row to know how to proceed, so the communities know how they can move forward with this regulation," Nelson said.
She added that Danvers took similar measures in 2012 when the state approved medical marijuana shops.
Although a 2014 Town Meeting approved a registered medical marijuana overlay zone in two sections of town - Cherry Hill Industrial Park and Danvers Industrial Park - no dispensaries have opened.
Among other things, the amended Act requires the town to vote by ballot on whether it will issue licenses for retail marijuana shops, and - should the town allow licenses for such facilities - it must vote by ballot no sooner than the next biennial state election, November 2018, to determine whether to allow on-site consumption of marijuana products.
During the review of a draft version of the article, Selectman David Mills said the extra time makes sense for the purpose of being careful and cautious with how new regulations are implemented in town.
"I don't like marijuana," he said. "In 49 years of being a lawyer, I have seen children destroyed and it just frightens me. But then again, I'm not the only voter. The voters of Massachusetts have a different view than my own conservative one."
The Selectmen approved the draft of Article 39 as it was written, only asking for clarification of the moratorium's timeline.
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing May 1 at 7 p.m., at the Danvers Senior Center, where residents will be allowed to weigh in on the subject or pose questions to the Planning Board.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Danvers considers delay on recreational marijuana shops - News - Danvers Herald - Danvers, MA
Author: Mary Byrne
Contact: Contact Us - Danvers Herald - Danvers, MA
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Danvers Herald: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Danvers, MA
