Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Following the legalization of commercial marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts, the Needham Board of Health is developing regulations for commercial marijuana dispensaries.
Town regulations for commercial dispensaries could be similar to the medical dispensary regulations, which the board passed in February.
"The idea is that we would try to mirror to a large extent the regulations we adopted for a medical marijuana dispensary," said Director of Public Health Tim McDonald.
Regulating both medical and commercial dispensaries would likely involve compliance checks similar to the ones conducted for shops that sell tobacco.
The town's compliance checks of tobacco vendors involve checking for proper signage and testing to make sure that all vendors check IDs to ensure the buyer is 21 or older.
For medical dispensaries, the compliance check could be fairly straightforward, as no one should be permitted inside the dispensary without a medical marijuana card.
"Hopefully it's a fairly simple compliance check," McDonald said.
Regulating commercial dispensaries could be a more complex process.
Those compliance checks would likely be similar to the tobacco checks in that the department would send persons under 21, typically local college students, into the store to purchase the item and see if the vendors check ID.
Another point of concern for the Board of Health is the option for homegrown pot. Included in the legalization of recreational marijuana is the ability to legally grow up to six plants at home.
While the town can't prohibit home-growing, McDonald said the Board of Health might look into requiring registration and inspection for all such sites in Needham.
"We think if done inappropriately, they can be a safety risk," McDonald said.
Local governments can implement marijuana dispensary regulations that are tighter than the state's, but they cannot establish regulations that are looser, McDonald said.
Enforcing these regulations would require more manpower and on Oct. 5, Special Town Meeting approved budgetary funding for a second full-time Environmental Health Agent to assist the Department of Public Health with the work.
According to McDonald, the department currently has one full-time environmental health agent and one part-time agent.
The town has not had much guidance yet from the state on how to handle commercial dispensaries should they come to Needham, McDonald said.
In its passage, question four established a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee regulations for recreational marijuana use and distribution in the state, but according to McDonald the state has not yet appointed anyone to the commission.
According to McDonald the board is anxious to start the local regulation process. As part of that the board hopes to gather feedback from the public, but gathering input can be challenging.
In that past, McDonald said there have been few responses to calls for public input.
The Board of Health is expected to hold a public hearing on marijuana dispensary regulations on Dec. 2.
Homegrows and the possession of recreational marijuana will become legal on Dec. 15, according to the terms of the ballot initiative approved by state voters Nov. 8.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Needham Considering Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Regulations
Author: Emma R. Murphy
Contact: 781-433-6700
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Wicked Local Needham
Town regulations for commercial dispensaries could be similar to the medical dispensary regulations, which the board passed in February.
"The idea is that we would try to mirror to a large extent the regulations we adopted for a medical marijuana dispensary," said Director of Public Health Tim McDonald.
Regulating both medical and commercial dispensaries would likely involve compliance checks similar to the ones conducted for shops that sell tobacco.
The town's compliance checks of tobacco vendors involve checking for proper signage and testing to make sure that all vendors check IDs to ensure the buyer is 21 or older.
For medical dispensaries, the compliance check could be fairly straightforward, as no one should be permitted inside the dispensary without a medical marijuana card.
"Hopefully it's a fairly simple compliance check," McDonald said.
Regulating commercial dispensaries could be a more complex process.
Those compliance checks would likely be similar to the tobacco checks in that the department would send persons under 21, typically local college students, into the store to purchase the item and see if the vendors check ID.
Another point of concern for the Board of Health is the option for homegrown pot. Included in the legalization of recreational marijuana is the ability to legally grow up to six plants at home.
While the town can't prohibit home-growing, McDonald said the Board of Health might look into requiring registration and inspection for all such sites in Needham.
"We think if done inappropriately, they can be a safety risk," McDonald said.
Local governments can implement marijuana dispensary regulations that are tighter than the state's, but they cannot establish regulations that are looser, McDonald said.
Enforcing these regulations would require more manpower and on Oct. 5, Special Town Meeting approved budgetary funding for a second full-time Environmental Health Agent to assist the Department of Public Health with the work.
According to McDonald, the department currently has one full-time environmental health agent and one part-time agent.
The town has not had much guidance yet from the state on how to handle commercial dispensaries should they come to Needham, McDonald said.
In its passage, question four established a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee regulations for recreational marijuana use and distribution in the state, but according to McDonald the state has not yet appointed anyone to the commission.
According to McDonald the board is anxious to start the local regulation process. As part of that the board hopes to gather feedback from the public, but gathering input can be challenging.
In that past, McDonald said there have been few responses to calls for public input.
The Board of Health is expected to hold a public hearing on marijuana dispensary regulations on Dec. 2.
Homegrows and the possession of recreational marijuana will become legal on Dec. 15, according to the terms of the ballot initiative approved by state voters Nov. 8.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Needham Considering Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Regulations
Author: Emma R. Murphy
Contact: 781-433-6700
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Wicked Local Needham
