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Potential medical marijuana treatment centers would likely have to be located in a special overlay district along Interstate 495, according to new zoning bylaw amendments proposed by the Department of Planning and Community Development.
The "Medical Marijuana Use Overlay District" consists of pockets of parcels on or near Forge Parkway, National Drive, Kenwood Circle and Constitution Boulevard that fall in the industrial zone.
The industrial zone also contains an "Adult Use Overlay District" for adult entertainment businesses, such as strip clubs and risqué bookstores.
According to the proposed amendments, the centers cannot be built within 200 feet of a neighborhood, school, library, church, child-care facility, park or playground.
Town Council voted on Wednesday to send the draft amendments to the Planning Board, which will review them early next month. After the Planning Board proffers its input, the amendments return to the council for a final vote.
The decision to create an overlay district for medical marijuana rather than adopt a moratorium – a temporary ban that several towns, including most recently Medway, have looked at – came during talks involving planning department officials and the Economic Development Committee.
"Everybody came to the consensus that it would be in our general interest to get a head start on setting something up," said Glenn Jones, a councilor and member of the development committee.
"We are not inviting the centers – that's not our goal," Jones said.
Last year, 63 percent of Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 3, a law allowing for the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes.
The Department of Public Health released draft regulations for the law last week. It defines the centers as nonprofit entities that may grow and distribute a 60-day supply of marijuana – up to 10 ounces – to patients with "serious conditions."
The DPH has given physicians the sole authority to deem what is and is not a serious condition.
This year, the law allows the state to register up to 35 nonprofit treatment centers, with no more than five per county. However, more may be permitted in the future.
Explaining the thinking behind the amendments, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said, "We tried to take into consideration that this is a new law that was approved by the voters. We thought the centers should be placed in the adult entertainment area until we know more about them."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: milforddailynews.com
Author: Lindsay Corcoran
Contact: The Milford Daily News Contact Us
Website: Medical marijuana overlay district planned along I-495 - News - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News
The "Medical Marijuana Use Overlay District" consists of pockets of parcels on or near Forge Parkway, National Drive, Kenwood Circle and Constitution Boulevard that fall in the industrial zone.
The industrial zone also contains an "Adult Use Overlay District" for adult entertainment businesses, such as strip clubs and risqué bookstores.
According to the proposed amendments, the centers cannot be built within 200 feet of a neighborhood, school, library, church, child-care facility, park or playground.
Town Council voted on Wednesday to send the draft amendments to the Planning Board, which will review them early next month. After the Planning Board proffers its input, the amendments return to the council for a final vote.
The decision to create an overlay district for medical marijuana rather than adopt a moratorium – a temporary ban that several towns, including most recently Medway, have looked at – came during talks involving planning department officials and the Economic Development Committee.
"Everybody came to the consensus that it would be in our general interest to get a head start on setting something up," said Glenn Jones, a councilor and member of the development committee.
"We are not inviting the centers – that's not our goal," Jones said.
Last year, 63 percent of Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 3, a law allowing for the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes.
The Department of Public Health released draft regulations for the law last week. It defines the centers as nonprofit entities that may grow and distribute a 60-day supply of marijuana – up to 10 ounces – to patients with "serious conditions."
The DPH has given physicians the sole authority to deem what is and is not a serious condition.
This year, the law allows the state to register up to 35 nonprofit treatment centers, with no more than five per county. However, more may be permitted in the future.
Explaining the thinking behind the amendments, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said, "We tried to take into consideration that this is a new law that was approved by the voters. We thought the centers should be placed in the adult entertainment area until we know more about them."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: milforddailynews.com
Author: Lindsay Corcoran
Contact: The Milford Daily News Contact Us
Website: Medical marijuana overlay district planned along I-495 - News - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News
