Needham Town Meeting Passes Marijuana Moratorium

Medical marijuana dispensary centers temporarily banned from town until regulations are developed.

  While medical marijuana is on its way to towns in Mass., Needham won't see any until next year.  Needham Annual Town Meeting voted Monday night to approve article 18, which imposes a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries,  Needham Yourtown confirms. The moratorium was proposed in an early January meeting, and would allow officials to put off zoning regulations for up to a year. The Selectmen called it a move that made sense at a late January meeting. The delay will put decisions off until March 1, 2014.  Several Needham Health officials spoke out against the medical marijuana initiative, and Gov. Patrick said he would likely vote against the ballot question. Despite that, medical marijuana dispensaries were approved in the …

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Planning Board Considering Medical Marijuana Moratorium Article

The Planning Board will deliberate their position on the medical marijuana moratorium warrant supported by the Selectmen.

  Officials are not yet sure how medical marijuana dispensaries would work in Needham, and are trying to get some more time to examine the issue. The Selectmen presented their views on a warrant article, which would push that decision back for a year, to the Planning Board on Tuesday night. The Planning Board has not taken a position, but Selectmen hope they will back it before it heads to Town Meeting.  The article calls for a year-long moratorium, which would allow officials to address their questions and concerns about how to apply the outlined law at a town level.  Selectman Dan Matthews explained the Selectmen's position, "Purpose of the moratorium is not to do nothing, but to allow some thoughtful consideration. The moratorium time …

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Needham Selectmen: Medical Marijuana Moratorium 'Makes Sense'

Board of Selectmen voted last night on a delay of the medical marijuana question passed by Mass. voters in November.

Needham Selectmen: Medical Marijuana Moratorium 'Makes Sense'

Board of Selectmen voted last night on a delay of the medical marijuana question passed by Mass. voters in November.

  Medical marijuana dispensaries were approved in the November vote, and the law is set to go into effect within the month--but not in Needham, yet. A moratorium proposed in an early January meeting would allow officials to put off zoning regulations for up to a year. The Selectmen voted last night unanimously in favor of that delay until March 1, 2014.  Said Selectmen Maurice Handel, "This is respectful of the vote that voters of Massachusetts took, and allows for adequate response from the town. It makes complete sense to do this." The concept, officials say, is to wait for the Mass Department of Public Health regulations and guidelines about the law before starting to write comparable zoning for Needham. "It's smart to have cooling off …

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Needham Selectmen Considering Mortatorium on Medical Marijuana

A nine- to twelve-month delay on medical marijuana zoning and regulations may be coming before Needham's Town Meeting in the spring.

  The question of zoning and public consumption of medical marijuana may be delayed, as officials are talking about putting a warrant article before Town Meeting which would put the question off for nine months to a year.  Members of the Board of Health spoke to the Selectmen at last night's meeting, discussing some of the complications they are finding with the medical marijuana.  In the November election, a question allowing for medical marijuana dispensaries to be set up in Mass. was approved. This law is set to go into effect within the month. However, Selectman Dan Matthews commented that the outlined law "presents a number of ambiguities, policy issues, and questions" on how to apply it at a town government level. “We believe the …

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