Peabody Pot Laws: City to Vote on Recreational Use

PEABODY, MA – If all goes to plan, the question of whether recreational marijuana dispensaries should be allowed in Peabody will be on the November ballot.

On Thursday, Peabody City Council approved unanimously to put the question to a referendum. Currently, the city clerk's office is looking at the procedures to put the question on the ballot in November, but Mayor Ted Bettencourt said it would be this year.

"I'm very pleased," Bettencourt said on Friday. "I think it's appropriate for the city."

Last November, the statewide question of whether to legalize medical marijuana did not pass in Peabody: 12,780 voted "yes," and 14,980 voted "no," according to the posted election results. Due to that result, and unanswered questions regarding the policing and administration of recreational pot, Bettencourt felt voters should get another say.

But the question of medical marijuana is a different story for Bettencourt. He and City Council are in the process of looking at a zone where medical marijuana dispensaries would be allowed, off of the highway.

"I do believe medical marijuana plays an important role in helping those that have illness," he said. He said a number of medical marijuana dispensaries had approached his office about opening in Peabody, but they are currently not allowed.

Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin has expressed similar concerns about recreational marijuana versus medical.

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