Motion To Ban Recreational Pot Shops Heads to Braintree Committee

BRAINTREE, MA — A proposed ban on the sale of marijuana is expected to return to the ordinance and rules committee.

At their meeting Tuesday's night, the town council voted to refer two actions related to the town's ability to opt out of the state recreational marijuana law. While the state voters approved legalization, a majority of Braintree voters were not in favor of the ballot measure.

"This motion is to create a Braintree Ordinance that would prohibit all commercial businesses related to "Marijuana not Medically prescribed;" including marijuana cultivation, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturing, marijuana retailers or any type of licensed 'marijuana not medically prescribed' marijuana-related businesses. It is important to note the Ordinariness would not prohibit the personal use of marijuana or growing of marijuana at a residence, as permitted by State law. However, I would be remiss to exclude that there remains a concern over the fact that Federal law prohibits any marijuana use," councilor Stephen O'Brien said in an email.

Council members have been considering their options for recreational marijuana since July, when the committee debated the scope of a possible ban.

In the Boston Globe, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said, "Individually, I support medical marijuana, as prescribed by a medical doctor, and its potential to help thousands of medical patients with serious medical conditions. Considering that there are a number of surrounding communities that have already implemented medical marijuana cultivation and/or medical marijuana dispensary facilities, a decision to venture into the medical marijuana area will be done carefully and with a thorough public vetting process."

If the motion for the ban is endorsed in committee, it will be sent to the council for a full vote.

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