Salem May Be Open To Experimenting With Recreational Marijuana

SALEM, MA -- Neighboring Peabody may just say no, but Salem seems open to the idea of allowing recreational marijuana sales. City Council discussed the issue for more than two hours at its meeting Monday night before referring the issue to the planning board. But members seemed to signal they would be open to allowing recreational marijuana sales -- at least on a trial basis -- in downtown once the planning board send the zoning law proposal back to city council.

Under the zoning rules being considered, recreational marijuana sales would be permitted in the downtown zoning district with a special permit. Some councilors and planning board members at Monday night's meeting also suggested they may be willing to allow recreational marijuana sales in ares of the city zoned as "business neighborhoods."

In a note to constituents on his Facebook page, Ward 5 Councilor Josh Turiel said the city is trying to sort out all of the issues surrounding recreational marijuana sales so they will be ready when the state issues final regulations. The Administration and Finance subcommittee will meet next week to consider whether or not the city should levy a local, 3% tax on marijuana sales. And the Ordinance, Licenses & Legal Affairs subcommittee will be meeting to consider whether or not the city should cap the total number of recreational marijuana establishments in the city.

More than 60% of Salem voters supported the 2016 ballot question that legalized recreational marijuana sales. Statewide, the measure passed by a margin of 1,745,394 to 1,511,747. Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a "compromise bill" that reworked the law to address concerns in the original language of the law. The expectation is that recreational marijuana sales in Massachusetts will start at some point in 2018.

More on this story:

• Peabody Poised To Ban Retail Marijuana Sales (11/10/2017)

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).