Waltham City Council Seeking Medical Marijuana Moratorium

Waltham city officials are seeking a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana stores opening in the city, according to City Councillor Ed Tarallo. 

A public hearing will be held on Monday, April 8, at 8 p.m. at City Hall to review a proposed moratorium on the opening of any medical marijuana facilities, according to Tarallo. The proposal is intended to give city official time to review regulations for potential future medical marijuana centers, Tarallo said. 

Technically, the proposal would be made through a zoning rules amendment.

The moratorium would run until Waltham officials add a specific zoning use category to existing regulations. 

“It does ban it for that time. It gives us an opportunity to study all the regulations, “ Tarallo said. 

After the hearing, the issue will go to a subcommittee for further review. 

The proposed moratorium comes in the wake of a Massachusets Attorney General ruling saying towns cannot ban medical marijuana stores, according to the Boston Globe. However, communities may regulate them. In November 2012, voters approved medical marijuana stores opening throughout the state.

The Board of Planning & Survey will join the Council for the Monday hearing.