Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
State Rep. Mark Cusack was on hand to hear some strong opinions from town councilors about recreational pot, and its future in Braintree, when he presented the context of a new state law regulating the state's soon-to-be budding marijuana industry.
"For Braintree to even think about bringing any aspect of recreational marijuana into town would be going against the voters," District 6 Councilor Dan Clifford told the state representative Tuesday night, adding that it would be against the will of the schools and their curriculum, as well as the police chief.
Cusack, who was key in the House effort to regulate marijuana, was on the council's agenda to present the context of a new law, entitled "An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana."
The law, which was signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in July, was crafted within five months. Cusack said, normally, committees tasked with drafting regulatory legislation are given an 18 month window.
The legislation allows communities that voted against ballot Question 4, like Braintree, to enact outright bans on commercial sale of pot without a referendum. Towns and cities that voted yes on Question 4 will have to overcome a ballot question to locally ban retail sale of the drug.
Clifford, who is not seeking reelection, took the opportunity to passionately voice his concerns about marijuana's future in Braintree.
The councilor called the cultivation of marijuana in Braintree a fraud on the public and said he was totally opposed to recreational marijuana.
"We're just interested in protecting Braintree," Clifford said.
The councilor also stated 100 percent of those addicted to or recovering from addiction to hard drugs he interacted with began their drug experience with pot.
"I am totally opposed to it, and especially because it's on the front end of the opioid epidemic," he said.
District 2 Councilor John Mullaney, who is also not seeking reelection, took a different approach.
"I've always believed that we should legalize marijuana and then regulate it," he said. "Clearly, this is going to give us an opportunity to regulate it."
Mullaney said there should be strict penalties for those who sell marijuana to minors and told Cusack that he was glad the new law doesn't throw punishing tax rates onto those who sell marijuana.
The new law taxes recreational marijuana with a 10.75 percent excise tax, a 6.25 percent state sales tax and a 3 percent local excise tax that is optional.
The original tax rate, approved by Massachusetts voters in Question 4, called for a tax rate of 12 percent.
Medical marijuana will continue to not be taxed in Massachusetts, Cusack said.
"This is a critical issue, especially when sales are going to come on line July 1, 2018," Cusack said.
The state rep said marijuana could become a $5 billion industry in Massachusetts and said the new law will reduce the marijuana black market to the under 21 population.
"This will be a public policy issue for the foreseeable future," Cusack said.
Cusack, who headed up the House effort to regulate marijuana, said his intentions were convoluted by the press.
"Our task was to properly regulate this industry," he said.
Cusack said the money collected from the taxed marijuana revenue will fund investments in substance abuse treatment, public health, public safety and the Cannabis Control Commission.
"This was about the people of Massachusetts," Cusack said. "Not the profits of the marijuana industry."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Future of retail marijuana in Braintree remains questionable - News - Braintree Forum - Braintree, MA
Author: Bradford Randall
Contact: Contact Us - Braintree Forum - Braintree, MA
Photo Credit: wjar
Website: Braintree Forum: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Braintree, MA
"For Braintree to even think about bringing any aspect of recreational marijuana into town would be going against the voters," District 6 Councilor Dan Clifford told the state representative Tuesday night, adding that it would be against the will of the schools and their curriculum, as well as the police chief.
Cusack, who was key in the House effort to regulate marijuana, was on the council's agenda to present the context of a new law, entitled "An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana."
The law, which was signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in July, was crafted within five months. Cusack said, normally, committees tasked with drafting regulatory legislation are given an 18 month window.
The legislation allows communities that voted against ballot Question 4, like Braintree, to enact outright bans on commercial sale of pot without a referendum. Towns and cities that voted yes on Question 4 will have to overcome a ballot question to locally ban retail sale of the drug.
Clifford, who is not seeking reelection, took the opportunity to passionately voice his concerns about marijuana's future in Braintree.
The councilor called the cultivation of marijuana in Braintree a fraud on the public and said he was totally opposed to recreational marijuana.
"We're just interested in protecting Braintree," Clifford said.
The councilor also stated 100 percent of those addicted to or recovering from addiction to hard drugs he interacted with began their drug experience with pot.
"I am totally opposed to it, and especially because it's on the front end of the opioid epidemic," he said.
District 2 Councilor John Mullaney, who is also not seeking reelection, took a different approach.
"I've always believed that we should legalize marijuana and then regulate it," he said. "Clearly, this is going to give us an opportunity to regulate it."
Mullaney said there should be strict penalties for those who sell marijuana to minors and told Cusack that he was glad the new law doesn't throw punishing tax rates onto those who sell marijuana.
The new law taxes recreational marijuana with a 10.75 percent excise tax, a 6.25 percent state sales tax and a 3 percent local excise tax that is optional.
The original tax rate, approved by Massachusetts voters in Question 4, called for a tax rate of 12 percent.
Medical marijuana will continue to not be taxed in Massachusetts, Cusack said.
"This is a critical issue, especially when sales are going to come on line July 1, 2018," Cusack said.
The state rep said marijuana could become a $5 billion industry in Massachusetts and said the new law will reduce the marijuana black market to the under 21 population.
"This will be a public policy issue for the foreseeable future," Cusack said.
Cusack, who headed up the House effort to regulate marijuana, said his intentions were convoluted by the press.
"Our task was to properly regulate this industry," he said.
Cusack said the money collected from the taxed marijuana revenue will fund investments in substance abuse treatment, public health, public safety and the Cannabis Control Commission.
"This was about the people of Massachusetts," Cusack said. "Not the profits of the marijuana industry."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Future of retail marijuana in Braintree remains questionable - News - Braintree Forum - Braintree, MA
Author: Bradford Randall
Contact: Contact Us - Braintree Forum - Braintree, MA
Photo Credit: wjar
Website: Braintree Forum: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Braintree, MA
