Planning Board Looks For Moratorium on Establishing Marijuana Zoning Guidelines

Town Meeting voters will decide on May 20 whether or not to place a temporary ban on Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers until Town Officials have more time to establish zoning and health regulations.

The moratorium, which is illustrated in Article 38 of this year's draft Town Meeting Warrant, will be in effect until June 30 of 2014 or until it is lifted.

"We’re looking to create a temporary moratorium so that we could address this at Special Town Meeting or next year’s Town Meeting," Planning Board Chair Greg Strange told Selectmen Monday night.

Selectmen agreed to recommend the moratorium.

"I think as a town it makes sense to get our ducks in order," Strange added.

Strange said the Planning and Zoning Board, which was charged with putting zoning regulations together related to marijuana and marijuana dispensaries, had difficulty doing so without state regulations.

Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly voted "yes" on a ballot question last fall that allowed for the use of medical marijuana in the Bay State.

Easton voters also voted in favor of the ballot question.

The state law requires the Massachusetts Department of Health to produce regulations relating to the use of medical marijuana in May 2013.

"Until the guidelines are in place, you really can’t craft a well-written bylaw," Strange said.