Politics & Government
Newton Officials Propose Moratorium On Recreational Pot Shops
This summer, licensed recreational marijuana shops will be legal across the state. But Newton is still figuring out what to do.
NEWTON, MA — This summer businesses will be permitted to sell recreational marijuana across the state, per a law passed two years ago. As the time draws near, Newton is looking at what that will mean for the Garden City. Officials are arguing the city should just say no (temporarily) to recreational pot shops - until they can figure out just what to do with them on a local level.
Under a state law passed by voters in 2016, state licensed businesses will be permitted to start selling adult-use recreational marijuana in July 2018 (not just medicinal marijuana as prescribed by a physician). The state is drafting regulations for the licensing and operation of these businesses expected to be issued by March 15. The state will begin accepting license applications in April. And it's all coming up fast.
Representatives from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s office, Planning and Development, Law, Health and Human Services, City Clerk, Police and City Councilor Greg Schwartz, have been meeting to study what to do and the planning department has come up with an option.
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The Planning and Development Department is recommending that the City Council put a temporary moratorium in place so the city can take time to adjust zoning after the complete regulations from the state Cannabis Control Commission are issued.
The Zoning and Planning Committee of the City council are holding a public hearing on the proposed temporary moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments in Newton. The idea is that the moratorium will give the working group longer to develop new zoning that will regulate where and under what conditions the establishments should be allowed in Newton.
Find out what's happening in Newtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
If the City Council passes the temporary moratorium through the end of 2018, Newton would join the approximately 90 other Massachusetts communities which have enacted similar measures to give themselves time to consider zoning options, according to a press release by the Mayor's office.
The Zoning and Planning Committee of the City Council will hold the public hearing on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in Room 205 at City Hall.
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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch
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