MAYOR SEEKS TEMPORARY MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM
Would provide time to review state regulations and City’s zoning bylaws
-Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is asking that the Somerville Board of Aldermen
approve a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries through June 30, 2014,
giving officials time to review both state regulations approved in May and Somerville's
own zoning bylaws to ensure the City will adequately address and comply with
the new law.
The
Massachusetts Public Health Council's 52 pages of medical marijuana regulations
went into effect on May 24, following the legalization of
medical marijuana in the November 2012 election. The state law allows a maximum
of 35 nonprofit dispensaries in Massachusetts, including at least one and no
more than five in a county.
Attorney
General Martha Coakley has ruled that cities and towns may impose moratoriums to
provide officials time to study and adopt measures to control development of
new uses, such as medical marijuana dispensaries.
A
moratorium in Somerville would provide time for the City's Legal Department to
carefully study the new state regulations and time for the Office of Strategic
Planning and Community Development and the Health Department to review the
City's current ordinances to ensure they adequately address this new use.
"Massachusetts
voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of medical marijuana with 63
percent of the vote last November, and I will honor the decision of the
voters," Mayor Curtatone said. "As with any new use or business in the city, we
want to be diligent, thoughtful and educated before making any decisions."
Feedback
Please submit website feedback using this form. Be sure to include:
Thank you for your feedback!