Medical Marijuana Moratorium Passed at Town Meeting

Town Meeting voted Monday to pass a medical marijuana moratorium. The moratorium will last for 18 months.

On Election Day in 2012, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot proposal that allows medical marijuana sales in the state, which left cities and towns to set regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. 

The Community Planning Commission, Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen recommended a temporary moratorium to residents at Town Meeting.

The moratorium will "temporarily prohibit" anyone from licensing a dispensary in town, Community Planning Administrator Danielle McKnight said. 

The moratorium will last for 18 months and will give the CPC enough time to draft a bylaw to present at October Town Meeting in 2014. The moratorium will "give the town enough time to study the potential impact of treatment centers," McKnight said.

The article passed with two-thirds vote.