Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The cannabis industry will have to put its roots down in communities other than Pembroke after residents voted to ban businesses that test, grow or sell recreational marijuana from opening in their town.
By a vote of 842 to 313, residents at the town election Saturday backed a ballot measure prohibiting "commercial businesses related to marijuana including marijuana cultivation, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturing, marijuana retailers, or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business."
The ballot-question vote came four days after residents at the annual town meeting approved an article to ban marijuana shops.
The ban on commercial shops and facilities won't affect medical marijuana use or personal use and household cultivation allowed by law.
There were no contests on the town's election ballot.
In November, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure that legalized the use and sale of recreational marijuana for people 21 and older, but the Legislature delayed implementation of most of the law. As a result, licenses for the retail sale of recreational marijuana cannot be issued before July 2018.
Marijuana is now legal to possess, grow and use, but it's still illegal to sell it.
Pembroke narrowly voted against the state ballot question to legalize pot, with 5,308 residents voting no and 5,165 voting yes.
In March, Westboro became the first community in the state to ban commercial marijuana businesses, and numerous towns and cities are considering moratoriums, including Abington, Taunton, Hanover and Mansfield.
Weymouth is forming a committee to determine the town's legal options for dealing with dispensary proposals, assess the potential financial benefits, and figure out what most residents want.
The state Department of Revenue estimated that retail pot sales could bring in $132 million in tax revenue in the first year. Meanwhile, the state treasurer's office has called for $10 million to be set aside to regulate the budding industry.
In the meantime, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy will study dozens of marijuana-related bills that lawmakers have filed since it became legal for adults to use, possess, grow or gift marijuana in December. The committee will likely also propose changes to the law, which was written by marijuana advocates and includes a provision prohibiting cities and towns from banning or severely limiting sales except by referendum.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pembroke voters ban recreational-pot businesses - News - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA
Author: Jessica Trufant
Contact: Contact Us - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Quincy, MA
By a vote of 842 to 313, residents at the town election Saturday backed a ballot measure prohibiting "commercial businesses related to marijuana including marijuana cultivation, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturing, marijuana retailers, or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business."
The ballot-question vote came four days after residents at the annual town meeting approved an article to ban marijuana shops.
The ban on commercial shops and facilities won't affect medical marijuana use or personal use and household cultivation allowed by law.
There were no contests on the town's election ballot.
In November, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure that legalized the use and sale of recreational marijuana for people 21 and older, but the Legislature delayed implementation of most of the law. As a result, licenses for the retail sale of recreational marijuana cannot be issued before July 2018.
Marijuana is now legal to possess, grow and use, but it's still illegal to sell it.
Pembroke narrowly voted against the state ballot question to legalize pot, with 5,308 residents voting no and 5,165 voting yes.
In March, Westboro became the first community in the state to ban commercial marijuana businesses, and numerous towns and cities are considering moratoriums, including Abington, Taunton, Hanover and Mansfield.
Weymouth is forming a committee to determine the town's legal options for dealing with dispensary proposals, assess the potential financial benefits, and figure out what most residents want.
The state Department of Revenue estimated that retail pot sales could bring in $132 million in tax revenue in the first year. Meanwhile, the state treasurer's office has called for $10 million to be set aside to regulate the budding industry.
In the meantime, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy will study dozens of marijuana-related bills that lawmakers have filed since it became legal for adults to use, possess, grow or gift marijuana in December. The committee will likely also propose changes to the law, which was written by marijuana advocates and includes a provision prohibiting cities and towns from banning or severely limiting sales except by referendum.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pembroke voters ban recreational-pot businesses - News - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA
Author: Jessica Trufant
Contact: Contact Us - The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Quincy, MA
