Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Board of Health has adopted local regulations governing the operation of registered medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
The regulations, which take effect Aug. 1, are intended to provide the board with the ability to evaluate the operation of those facilities and intervene when issues arise.
As part of the regulations, the operators of medical marijuana dispensaries in Worcester would have to pay a $500 annual license fee.
The city has negotiated host agreements for the operation of four medical marijuana dispensaries. Of the four, one is tentatively set to open its doors in August, and the other three will open by February.
While state law governs the siting and operation of medical marijuana facilities, municipalities, through their boards of health, have the option of adopting additional regulations to provide local oversight as well.
Communities that have already adopted local regulations or are considering them include Brookline, Boston, Lowell and Cambridge.
The Worcester regulations, which were adopted by a 4-1 vote, in part call for:
- No medical marijuana dispensary can operate in the city without first obtaining a license issued annually by the Board of Health. Also, no license shall be issued unless the operator of the dispensary has the approval of the state Department of Public Health and has signed a host agreement with the city.
The operators of these facilities also have to submit a plan for review by the Board of Health, Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Inspectional Services detailing all security measures to be taken to ensure patron and community safety, and to eliminate unauthorized access to the premises.
- The siting of medical marijuana dispensaries is prohibited within 300 feet of a school, day care, public library, park or playground.
- Operators must consent to unannounced, periodic inspections of the dispensaries by the Police Department, Fire Department, Division of Public Health and Department of Inspectional Services to ensure they are operating in compliance with all local regulations and any other applicable laws or regulations.
- The Board of Health has the power to set limitations on signage for those facilities and the hours they can be open. They cannot open for business before 8 a.m. and shall not close later than 7 p.m. daily.
- All dispensaries must provide parking within 300 feet of the licensed establishment.
- Operators must submit quarterly data reports to the Board of Health, as well as provide updated information on operating procedures.
For any violation, the Board of Health may order the registered medical marijuana dispensary license holder to enter into a corrective action plan to address any violations and to prevent future ones.
Refusal to cooperate with inspections as allowed in the local regulations shall result in a suspension of a license for up to 30 consecutive business days. The Board of Health also has the power to revoke a license.
David Fort, chairman of the Board of Health, said the local regulations will ensure the city has the oversight it needs for medical marijuana dispensaries.
"We're here as an oversight committee or board so if anything should go wrong we are here to step in," Mr. Fort said.
Karyn E. Clark, the city's director of public health and who played a role in drafting the regulations, said they are not intended to make it more difficult to establish and operate medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
Instead, she said their main function is to provide the city with oversight by giving the Board of Health the ability to better control those operations by building relationships with their operators.
The Board of Health held a public hearing on the proposed regulations last month. Only two people, both representing Prime Wellness Center, attended it. They did not voice opposition to the proposed regulations.
Ms. Clark said no additional written testimony has been received since then.
More than four years ago Massachusetts voters approved a referendum to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Worcester Board of Health adopts regulations for medical marijuana sites - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA
Author: Nick Kotsopoulos
Contact: Contact - Worcester, MA - telegram.com
Photo Credit: OCR File Photo
Website: telegram.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Worcester, MA
The regulations, which take effect Aug. 1, are intended to provide the board with the ability to evaluate the operation of those facilities and intervene when issues arise.
As part of the regulations, the operators of medical marijuana dispensaries in Worcester would have to pay a $500 annual license fee.
The city has negotiated host agreements for the operation of four medical marijuana dispensaries. Of the four, one is tentatively set to open its doors in August, and the other three will open by February.
While state law governs the siting and operation of medical marijuana facilities, municipalities, through their boards of health, have the option of adopting additional regulations to provide local oversight as well.
Communities that have already adopted local regulations or are considering them include Brookline, Boston, Lowell and Cambridge.
The Worcester regulations, which were adopted by a 4-1 vote, in part call for:
- No medical marijuana dispensary can operate in the city without first obtaining a license issued annually by the Board of Health. Also, no license shall be issued unless the operator of the dispensary has the approval of the state Department of Public Health and has signed a host agreement with the city.
The operators of these facilities also have to submit a plan for review by the Board of Health, Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Inspectional Services detailing all security measures to be taken to ensure patron and community safety, and to eliminate unauthorized access to the premises.
- The siting of medical marijuana dispensaries is prohibited within 300 feet of a school, day care, public library, park or playground.
- Operators must consent to unannounced, periodic inspections of the dispensaries by the Police Department, Fire Department, Division of Public Health and Department of Inspectional Services to ensure they are operating in compliance with all local regulations and any other applicable laws or regulations.
- The Board of Health has the power to set limitations on signage for those facilities and the hours they can be open. They cannot open for business before 8 a.m. and shall not close later than 7 p.m. daily.
- All dispensaries must provide parking within 300 feet of the licensed establishment.
- Operators must submit quarterly data reports to the Board of Health, as well as provide updated information on operating procedures.
For any violation, the Board of Health may order the registered medical marijuana dispensary license holder to enter into a corrective action plan to address any violations and to prevent future ones.
Refusal to cooperate with inspections as allowed in the local regulations shall result in a suspension of a license for up to 30 consecutive business days. The Board of Health also has the power to revoke a license.
David Fort, chairman of the Board of Health, said the local regulations will ensure the city has the oversight it needs for medical marijuana dispensaries.
"We're here as an oversight committee or board so if anything should go wrong we are here to step in," Mr. Fort said.
Karyn E. Clark, the city's director of public health and who played a role in drafting the regulations, said they are not intended to make it more difficult to establish and operate medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
Instead, she said their main function is to provide the city with oversight by giving the Board of Health the ability to better control those operations by building relationships with their operators.
The Board of Health held a public hearing on the proposed regulations last month. Only two people, both representing Prime Wellness Center, attended it. They did not voice opposition to the proposed regulations.
Ms. Clark said no additional written testimony has been received since then.
More than four years ago Massachusetts voters approved a referendum to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Worcester Board of Health adopts regulations for medical marijuana sites - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA
Author: Nick Kotsopoulos
Contact: Contact - Worcester, MA - telegram.com
Photo Credit: OCR File Photo
Website: telegram.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Worcester, MA
