HARWICH – The town counsel in Harwich recently made recommendations to selectmen to put three marijuana zoning bylaws before town meeting voters.
The bylaw proposals presented by John Giorgio include a total ban of retail marijuana sales and an extension of Harwich’s current moratorium on pot shops from the end of June through December 31.
“I believe the intent there is to make sure the town has sufficient time to essentially get this right,” Giorgio said.
Giorgio also recommended a bylaw that would govern the time, place and manner for recreational pot sales in case the other two bylaws are defeated.
“It would be a zoning bylaw that regulates where marijuana establishments can be located in the town,” Giorgio said. “Because if you don’t have specific requirements, it will be allowed anywhere where retail sales are located.”
He said the three bylaws are necessary due to the uncertainty of state regulations.
“The difficulties everyone is operating under is we don’t really know what rules are going to apply,” Giorgio said.
The majority of Harwich voters were against the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016.
Selectmen will revisit the bylaws discussion this month.
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