Milford Brings Marijuana Vote To The Ballot Box

MILFORD, MA—Town selectmen opted not to pair a marijuana ballot referendum question with the town election this year, rather bumping it up to March 6.

At the Milford Board of Selectmen meeting on Sept. 17, the selectmen reviewed the decision from the Office of the Attorney General that states that since the specific by-law adopted under Article 14 has not been approved by the voters at a local election as required, the by-law has no legal effect and cannot validly be applied to marijuana establishments. The board unanimously voted to place the question on the March 6 ballot.

In September, Milford voters, by a little more than half, approved a bylaw to prohibit recreational marijuana establishments in the town. Then in October, at Town Meeting, voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to allow those businesses that were established before July 2017 to continue. A vote on a town ballot would make the bylaw official.

The sample ballot of the question and footnote that includes the grandfathered exception can be found here.

Voting on Tuesday, March 6, is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo via Shutterstock