BOURNE – Selectmen in Bourne have taken the first steps towards banning pot shops in town.
The board recently voted to place an article on the town meeting warrant to “opt out” of the portion of the new recreational marijuana law which allows retail sales.
Plymouth-Barnstable State Senator Vinny deMacedo spoke before selectmen last month about the law passed by voters in November and says the measure must be approved by voters at town meeting and the ballot box.
“In this case every community is in, unless they chose to make an action to get out,” deMacedo said. “Again the law says this is the action.”
DeMacedo also said the town should take advantage of the six-month delay of recreational sales passed by the legislature to develop guidelines for retail sales if the voters reject the measure.
“People may say ‘no, we want facilities in our community – retail establishments,’” deMacedo said. “If they do that then the next action I would tell you is to start thinking about zoning and where you want these facilities or do you want them anywhere.”
Retail sales in the state were originally slated to being on January 1, 2018, but the legislation passed by lawmakers has delayed that opening date until at least July 1, 2018.
DeMacedo said legislators are not done making changes to the law passed by state voters last fall.
“They are going to be addressing some of the concerns about public safety, driving under the influence,” he said. “There are things that are going to be happening legislatively – the Cannabis Control Commission – how does that work? We have to come up with funds to even implement the Cannabis Control Commission.”
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
