Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
With recreational marijuana now legal in Massachusetts, cities and towns are scrambling to put rules in place around dispensaries, cannabis cafes, and more.
The Easthampton Planning Board is about to begin its own discussion. Tuesday night, the board plans to discuss "a purpose statement for new zoning for recreational marijuana."
Such zoning could decide where cannabis shops are allowed, their hours of operation, signage, and describe other potential limitations. Any zoning change must ultimately be approved by the City Council.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed a recreational marijuana bill into law Friday, after legislators hammered out compromise language. It pushes the opening of retail pot shops to July 2018, instead of the January 2018 date voters approved in November.
In addition to a 17 percent base tax, it allows cities and towns to levy a 3 percent "local option" tax on marijuana sales. Medical marijuana will remain untaxed.
Recreational shops must forge a host community agreement with their municipality. A new Cannabis Control Commission will issue regulations over the coming months, with a special application for selling edibles. The commission will also regulate medical marijuana, which is now under the Department of Public Health.
Easthampton adopted zoning for medical marijuana in 2015, and granted a special permit to Hampden Care Facility in March 2016 for a grow room and dispensary at 122 Pleasant St., the Keystone Mill.
The medical cannabis facility has still not opened. On July 12, Hampden Care received a "final certification of registration" from the state Department of Public Health. However, the group still needs one more piece of paper -- a state-issued "authorization to sell."
Stephen M. Reilly, a lawyer for Hampden Care Facility, told city councilors in January the shop would provide a high-end customer experience "similar to an Apple store."
Reilly also told councilors his client could be interested in the recreational side of the business. An effort to reach Reilly by telephone Friday was not successful.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Easthampton Planning Board to discuss recreational marijuana zoning | masslive.com
Author: Mary C. Serreze
Contact: Contact Us - MassLive Media Solutions
Photo Credit: Richard Vogel
Website: Massachusetts Local News, Breaking News, Sports and Weather - MassLive.com
The Easthampton Planning Board is about to begin its own discussion. Tuesday night, the board plans to discuss "a purpose statement for new zoning for recreational marijuana."
Such zoning could decide where cannabis shops are allowed, their hours of operation, signage, and describe other potential limitations. Any zoning change must ultimately be approved by the City Council.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed a recreational marijuana bill into law Friday, after legislators hammered out compromise language. It pushes the opening of retail pot shops to July 2018, instead of the January 2018 date voters approved in November.
In addition to a 17 percent base tax, it allows cities and towns to levy a 3 percent "local option" tax on marijuana sales. Medical marijuana will remain untaxed.
Recreational shops must forge a host community agreement with their municipality. A new Cannabis Control Commission will issue regulations over the coming months, with a special application for selling edibles. The commission will also regulate medical marijuana, which is now under the Department of Public Health.
Easthampton adopted zoning for medical marijuana in 2015, and granted a special permit to Hampden Care Facility in March 2016 for a grow room and dispensary at 122 Pleasant St., the Keystone Mill.
The medical cannabis facility has still not opened. On July 12, Hampden Care received a "final certification of registration" from the state Department of Public Health. However, the group still needs one more piece of paper -- a state-issued "authorization to sell."
Stephen M. Reilly, a lawyer for Hampden Care Facility, told city councilors in January the shop would provide a high-end customer experience "similar to an Apple store."
Reilly also told councilors his client could be interested in the recreational side of the business. An effort to reach Reilly by telephone Friday was not successful.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Easthampton Planning Board to discuss recreational marijuana zoning | masslive.com
Author: Mary C. Serreze
Contact: Contact Us - MassLive Media Solutions
Photo Credit: Richard Vogel
Website: Massachusetts Local News, Breaking News, Sports and Weather - MassLive.com
