Maine – A hastily arranged ordinance regulating medical marijuana dispensaries survived a townwide vote Wednesday, two days before the state announces if Eliot will host such a facility.
Of about 5,300 registered voters, 102 showed at Marshwood Middle School to decide the issue.
The vote was 61-41. The ordinance prohibits a dispensary from being located near schools or residential areas and requires information about the building layout and people who use or work at the facility be kept confidential.
Green ReliefMD, a well-organized nonprofit group, wants to build a dispensary on Goodwin Road near the intersection of Route 236 across from a popular tavern. It is competing with five other groups seeking to build a single dispensary that will serve southern York County. The state will announce the winner tomorrow.
The Board of Selectmen wanted to prohibit dispensaries altogether, but voters shot down a moratorium last month.
Arguing it needs "local control," the board then rushed to draft the regulatory ordinance and hold a vote before Friday's deadline. It ignored a suggestion by the town's legal counsel that the ordinance should be reviewed by the Planning Board because it involves land use issues.
Selectman Roland Fernald argued it was important to get it passed quickly so it will apply to Green Relief if it is awarded the Eliot site.
"We needed to have something in place," he said, adding state law did not go far enough in preventing dispensaries from being located near schools or in residential areas.
Eliot's ordinance prohibits a dispensary from being located within 500 feet of a school or in the downtown village, shore land, flood plain, and wetland zones. It recommends unmarked cars deliver marijuana to patients to prevent attention and mitigate traffic.
A representative from Green Relief previously called the restrictions "fair."
Some of the provisions, including those dealing with confidentiality and the delivery method, could conflict with state law. Fernald said the ordinance can always be amended.
In November, Maine voters approved medical marijuana dispensaries, becoming the fifth state to do so. The law allows people with "debilitating medical conditions" like cancer and Crohn's disease to obtain marijuana at state-sanctioned dispensaries that can also grow the plant. Patients must register with the state.
On Wednesday, many Eliot voters agreed dispensaries are needed, but differed on the merits of the regulatory ordinance.
Sam Parady, a 19-year-old political science major at the University of Vermont, voted for the ordinance. He said it is a "common-sense solution" that establishes a buffer between dispensaries and schools and residential areas.
Noah Lemire, a 23-year-old electrician, voted against the ordinance. He said it should have gone through the Planning Board first, adding state law already regulates dispensaries.
Fernald said Wednesday's crowd was larger than typical town meetings.
"You have to have a controversial issue to get people out."
Nevertheless, he said it was a good exercise in democracy.
"The voters are the ones who had the final say. That's what's so great about the town meeting form of government."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Fosters
Author: JASON CLAFFEY
Copyright: 2010 Geo. J. Foster Company
Of about 5,300 registered voters, 102 showed at Marshwood Middle School to decide the issue.
The vote was 61-41. The ordinance prohibits a dispensary from being located near schools or residential areas and requires information about the building layout and people who use or work at the facility be kept confidential.
Green ReliefMD, a well-organized nonprofit group, wants to build a dispensary on Goodwin Road near the intersection of Route 236 across from a popular tavern. It is competing with five other groups seeking to build a single dispensary that will serve southern York County. The state will announce the winner tomorrow.
The Board of Selectmen wanted to prohibit dispensaries altogether, but voters shot down a moratorium last month.
Arguing it needs "local control," the board then rushed to draft the regulatory ordinance and hold a vote before Friday's deadline. It ignored a suggestion by the town's legal counsel that the ordinance should be reviewed by the Planning Board because it involves land use issues.
Selectman Roland Fernald argued it was important to get it passed quickly so it will apply to Green Relief if it is awarded the Eliot site.
"We needed to have something in place," he said, adding state law did not go far enough in preventing dispensaries from being located near schools or in residential areas.
Eliot's ordinance prohibits a dispensary from being located within 500 feet of a school or in the downtown village, shore land, flood plain, and wetland zones. It recommends unmarked cars deliver marijuana to patients to prevent attention and mitigate traffic.
A representative from Green Relief previously called the restrictions "fair."
Some of the provisions, including those dealing with confidentiality and the delivery method, could conflict with state law. Fernald said the ordinance can always be amended.
In November, Maine voters approved medical marijuana dispensaries, becoming the fifth state to do so. The law allows people with "debilitating medical conditions" like cancer and Crohn's disease to obtain marijuana at state-sanctioned dispensaries that can also grow the plant. Patients must register with the state.
On Wednesday, many Eliot voters agreed dispensaries are needed, but differed on the merits of the regulatory ordinance.
Sam Parady, a 19-year-old political science major at the University of Vermont, voted for the ordinance. He said it is a "common-sense solution" that establishes a buffer between dispensaries and schools and residential areas.
Noah Lemire, a 23-year-old electrician, voted against the ordinance. He said it should have gone through the Planning Board first, adding state law already regulates dispensaries.
Fernald said Wednesday's crowd was larger than typical town meetings.
"You have to have a controversial issue to get people out."
Nevertheless, he said it was a good exercise in democracy.
"The voters are the ones who had the final say. That's what's so great about the town meeting form of government."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Fosters
Author: JASON CLAFFEY
Copyright: 2010 Geo. J. Foster Company
