Pot Policy Options Aplenty At Town Meeting

MANSFIELD, MA — Town Meeting voters will take up a variety of articles dealing with the prospect of recreational marijuana establishments and businesses.

Articles 29 and 30 aim to create zoning for the recreational drug. If approved, Article 29 would create a marijuana cultivation overlay district on School Street, making the area the only place in town where cultivation can take place in Mansfield. Article 30 creates two areas off of where marijuana can be sold - Mansfield Crossing and Erin's Center.

If both are passed, it's likely that voters will move on to Article 31, which adds a 3 percent local sales tax to all marijuana sales.

While recreational sellers can open July 1, it may be a longer wait in Mansfield comparted to the rest of the state. Article 34 asks voted to extend the current moratorium on recreational marijuana sales and business from Nov. 30 to June 30, 2019.

Voters do have the option to go the other way as well. Article 35 prohibits marijuana establishments in all zoning districts.

Article 43, a citizen's petition from Allen Bryer and 10 others, prohibits all non-medical marijuana establishments. If passed, it would need a ballot vote to become a town by-law.

All the votes on recreational marijuana will not impact medical marijuana, which is regulated by a different set of rules.

The 2018 Annual Town Meeting is May 15 at 7 p.m. at Mansfield High School.

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