Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Town Meeting voted Monday night to ban recreational marijuana businesses from opening in Westford, a decision that comes less than a year after the town opposed the statewide legalization of the drug.
Under amendments to the law passed by the Legislature, communities that voted against the question last year can effectively opt out and block any recreational marijuana establishments within their borders.
Town Meeting voted in two parts Monday night, first to change the general bylaws by a majority voice vote and then to change the zoning bylaws by a 300-62 ballot vote.
Medical marijuana is not affected by Monday's vote. Although Westford does not currently have a dispensary, such an organization is still allowed.
Many of the arguments made before the vote were familiar, echoing themes from the buildup to the ballot vote last year and earlier. Supporters of the ban described a need to protect children from a harmful material, while opponents argued that Westford would miss an opportunity for revenue as neighboring towns allowed shops to open.
Police Chief Thomas McEnaney specifically referred to the risk of impaired driving.
"There's enough going on with kids driving, enough distractions, and we don't need any more distractions," he said. "I am absolutely against any commercialization of marijuana and I do support the articles as written. The potential problems here far outweigh the risks and benefits we get here. It's just too much.
Resident Sashi Desikan said he believed customers, including those under 21, who are not permitted to purchase marijuana under state law, would simply travel to nearby towns if interested. He said that would make the local ban ineffective from a public-health perspective.
"That's not going to stop them from going to Chelmsford or Lowell," Desikan said. "If the state has legalized it, you're losing a revenue opportunity."
Westford voted against Question 4 in November, with 7,169 residents opposing it and 6,557 supporting it. The question passed statewide, however, and sales of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts will begin in July 2018.
One resident suggested exempting "independent testing laboratories" from the ban, but the idea was not approved.
Had the full ban failed, town officials instead would have sought a moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments through Dec. 31, 2018. However, that was not necessary following the ban's approval.
All other articles at Town Meeting were approved, including bylaw changes better manage solar arrays and to allow multiple uses on commercial and industrial plots. Regular financial transfers were approved as well.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Westford Town Meeting bans recreational marijuana shops - Lowell Sun Online
Author: Chris Lisinski
Contact: Contact Us - Lowell Sun Online
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic - Lowell Sun Online
Under amendments to the law passed by the Legislature, communities that voted against the question last year can effectively opt out and block any recreational marijuana establishments within their borders.
Town Meeting voted in two parts Monday night, first to change the general bylaws by a majority voice vote and then to change the zoning bylaws by a 300-62 ballot vote.
Medical marijuana is not affected by Monday's vote. Although Westford does not currently have a dispensary, such an organization is still allowed.
Many of the arguments made before the vote were familiar, echoing themes from the buildup to the ballot vote last year and earlier. Supporters of the ban described a need to protect children from a harmful material, while opponents argued that Westford would miss an opportunity for revenue as neighboring towns allowed shops to open.
Police Chief Thomas McEnaney specifically referred to the risk of impaired driving.
"There's enough going on with kids driving, enough distractions, and we don't need any more distractions," he said. "I am absolutely against any commercialization of marijuana and I do support the articles as written. The potential problems here far outweigh the risks and benefits we get here. It's just too much.
Resident Sashi Desikan said he believed customers, including those under 21, who are not permitted to purchase marijuana under state law, would simply travel to nearby towns if interested. He said that would make the local ban ineffective from a public-health perspective.
"That's not going to stop them from going to Chelmsford or Lowell," Desikan said. "If the state has legalized it, you're losing a revenue opportunity."
Westford voted against Question 4 in November, with 7,169 residents opposing it and 6,557 supporting it. The question passed statewide, however, and sales of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts will begin in July 2018.
One resident suggested exempting "independent testing laboratories" from the ban, but the idea was not approved.
Had the full ban failed, town officials instead would have sought a moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments through Dec. 31, 2018. However, that was not necessary following the ban's approval.
All other articles at Town Meeting were approved, including bylaw changes better manage solar arrays and to allow multiple uses on commercial and industrial plots. Regular financial transfers were approved as well.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Westford Town Meeting bans recreational marijuana shops - Lowell Sun Online
Author: Chris Lisinski
Contact: Contact Us - Lowell Sun Online
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic - Lowell Sun Online
