Wayland May Use Cannabis Fees To Fund Youth Services

WAYLAND, MA — The Wayland Select Board is poised to approve an agreement with a medical cannabis dispensary that would help fund youth mental health and drug interdiction services in town.

Earth Well Farms is in the process of trying to open a medical dispensary at 540 Boston Post Road. On Monday, the Select Board reviewed a draft host-community agreement with the company that would levy a community impact fee of 3 percent of gross annual sales. Wayland would also collect excise taxes from any vehicles kept by the Earth Well Farms.

In a memo to the board, acting Town Manager Stephen Crane said the income could be used to pay for speakers to visit Wayland Public Schools, host more healthy youth nights and pay to update the school wellness curriculum materials. Member Adam Gutbezahl also suggested using the fees to increase mental health counseling.

Under state law, municipalities can levy community impact fees up to 3 percent of annual gross sales. The law applies to both medical and retail stores. Wayland has banned retail cannabis stores through a zoning change, but cities and towns cannot ban medical dispensaries. Town zoning allows medical dispensaries only in a small area along Route 20 at the Sudbury line.

Unlike retail stores, only residents with medical marijuana cards can patronize medical dispensaries.

Crane said the host-community agreement still needs to be revised and sent back to Earth Well Farms for feedback. The Select Board will ultimately approve the agreement, however.

The Wayland Planning Board still has to approve a special permit and site plan for Earth Well Farms. That approval could come at a Planning Board meeting coming up on June 21.