Foxborough Voters Will be Asked to Ban Marijuana Businesses

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Residents will be asked at this May’s town election to prohibit marijuana businesses from opening in town.

The selectmen voted Tuesday 4-0 to place a question on the ballot that if passed, would ban the establishment of all recreational marijuana businesses in Foxborough. Selectman Ginny Coppola was not in attendance.

Potential medical marijuana facilities would not be affected and are covered by a different set of laws.

The board also considered asking resident to approve an 18-month moratorium at the Annual Town Meeting but chose to push that to the fall meeting because applications for retail marijuana licenses will not be accepted until next year.

Chairman David Feldman said he supported the ballot question because it could be a way to gauge the how Foxborough feels about the issue.

“If the town says no, we want it, then we have to look at zoning,” Feldman said.

Former Police Chief Ed O’Leary urged the board to support the question. As chief, O’Leary opposed legalizing marijuana, citing concerns with more people driving while under the influence of the drug.

“Certainly makes me concern as a resident, a parent, and a grandparent,” he said.

Foxborough joins other local communities like Stoughton, Norwood, and Needham in asking residents to ban marijuana businesses.

Image: File Photo