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Selectmen tonight plan to discuss how to respond to the new law that legalizes medical marijuana as local officials await guidance and regulations from the state Department of Public Health.
Town Administrator Martha White recommended in a memo pursuing a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana treatment centers locating in Natick until Feb. 1, 2014, providing time to review DPH regulations and develop proposed zoning amendments for fall Town Meeting. The town could develop a zoning proposal now, but White said there is not sufficient state guidance to do so.
Other options selectmen could consider include creating a general by-law regulating medical marijuana and prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries completely from the town, though White said she does not recommend those approaches.
DPH has until May 1, 2013 under the law voters approved last November to develop regulations. The law provides for up to five dispensaries per county and up to 35 statewide.
Public Health Director James White and Police Chief James Hicks said they are not aware of any proposals currently for a dispensary in Natick.
"If it's coming in, we just want to make sure that the place is set up so people that need it are protected, the community's protected (and) it's not in hands of people who shouldn't have it," James White said.
The law allows qualifying patients to receive up to a 60-day supply of marijuana from a dispensary, but he said the state has yet to decide how much marijuana comprises a 60-day supply.
"Everyone right know is reacting to the unknown and not reacting to facts," Police Chief James Hicks said.
Hicks said state regulations may end up sufficient so local action is not needed. Or, the town may want act locally when it sees state rules.
A temporary moratorium "gives time to get the guidelines out," Hicks said. "It's going to be a process of training and educating and understanding then implementing those guidelines, like any new law."
A moratorium, though, could present conflicts with DPH regulations once they are implemented. Legal action could also be taken against a community if plaintiffs show the town is delaying implementation of the law, according to a memo from Hicks, James White and other town officials who have studied the issue.
Hicks said he worries about marijuana-related safety issues, including increased use by youth and more dependency on other drugs.
Selectmen Chairman Paul Joseph said his board plans to look at it now so it can put an article before Town Meeting this spring if needed. Joseph said the Natick Together for Youth coalition has also been discussing the issue recently.
"I think the approach is right," he said of the administration's recommendation. "The moratorium makes sense."
Bruce Bedrick, CEO of Kind Clinics, LLC and Medbox, Inc., has opened a consulting office in Natick and said he has seen strong demand for his services. Bedrick sells Medbox, a dispensing system that uses biometrics to ensure marijuana is distributed only to authorized users. His business is not a dispensary.
Bedrick said marijuana can be distributed safely using his system, which relies on fingerprints and limits the amount dispensed to state laws. He said dispensaries typically use a doctor's office business model and patients typically are middle class or above.
"These are upstanding, productive members of society," he said.
Bedrick said about 65 percent of Massachusetts voters supported the measure and encouraged community leaders to embrace the new law.
"This is an amazing opportunity for Massachusetts to really be progressive, to really be compassionate and to really lead the nation," he said.
The public portion of the meeting is expected to start at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: metrowestdailynews.com
Author: Brian Benson
Contact: The MetroWest Daily News Contact Us
Website: Natick Selectmen to discuss medical marijuana options - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
Town Administrator Martha White recommended in a memo pursuing a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana treatment centers locating in Natick until Feb. 1, 2014, providing time to review DPH regulations and develop proposed zoning amendments for fall Town Meeting. The town could develop a zoning proposal now, but White said there is not sufficient state guidance to do so.
Other options selectmen could consider include creating a general by-law regulating medical marijuana and prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries completely from the town, though White said she does not recommend those approaches.
DPH has until May 1, 2013 under the law voters approved last November to develop regulations. The law provides for up to five dispensaries per county and up to 35 statewide.
Public Health Director James White and Police Chief James Hicks said they are not aware of any proposals currently for a dispensary in Natick.
"If it's coming in, we just want to make sure that the place is set up so people that need it are protected, the community's protected (and) it's not in hands of people who shouldn't have it," James White said.
The law allows qualifying patients to receive up to a 60-day supply of marijuana from a dispensary, but he said the state has yet to decide how much marijuana comprises a 60-day supply.
"Everyone right know is reacting to the unknown and not reacting to facts," Police Chief James Hicks said.
Hicks said state regulations may end up sufficient so local action is not needed. Or, the town may want act locally when it sees state rules.
A temporary moratorium "gives time to get the guidelines out," Hicks said. "It's going to be a process of training and educating and understanding then implementing those guidelines, like any new law."
A moratorium, though, could present conflicts with DPH regulations once they are implemented. Legal action could also be taken against a community if plaintiffs show the town is delaying implementation of the law, according to a memo from Hicks, James White and other town officials who have studied the issue.
Hicks said he worries about marijuana-related safety issues, including increased use by youth and more dependency on other drugs.
Selectmen Chairman Paul Joseph said his board plans to look at it now so it can put an article before Town Meeting this spring if needed. Joseph said the Natick Together for Youth coalition has also been discussing the issue recently.
"I think the approach is right," he said of the administration's recommendation. "The moratorium makes sense."
Bruce Bedrick, CEO of Kind Clinics, LLC and Medbox, Inc., has opened a consulting office in Natick and said he has seen strong demand for his services. Bedrick sells Medbox, a dispensing system that uses biometrics to ensure marijuana is distributed only to authorized users. His business is not a dispensary.
Bedrick said marijuana can be distributed safely using his system, which relies on fingerprints and limits the amount dispensed to state laws. He said dispensaries typically use a doctor's office business model and patients typically are middle class or above.
"These are upstanding, productive members of society," he said.
Bedrick said about 65 percent of Massachusetts voters supported the measure and encouraged community leaders to embrace the new law.
"This is an amazing opportunity for Massachusetts to really be progressive, to really be compassionate and to really lead the nation," he said.
The public portion of the meeting is expected to start at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: metrowestdailynews.com
Author: Brian Benson
Contact: The MetroWest Daily News Contact Us
Website: Natick Selectmen to discuss medical marijuana options - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
