Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jun 2013
Source: Somerville News, The (MA)
Copyright: 2013 The Somerville News and Prospect Hill Publishing, Inc
Contact:  http://www.thesomervillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4868

MAYOR SEEKS TEMPORARY MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is asking that the Somerville Board of
Aldermen approve a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries
through June 30, 2014, giving officials time to review both state
regulations approved in May and Somerville's own zoning bylaws to
ensure the city will adequately address and comply with the new law.

The Massachusetts Public Health Council's 52 pages of medical
marijuana regulations went into effect on May 24, following the
legalization of medical marijuana in the November 2012 election. The
state law allows a maximum of 35 nonprofit dispensaries in
Massachusetts, including at least one and no more than five in a county.

Attorney General Martha Coakley has ruled that cities and towns may
impose moratoriums to provide officials time to study and adopt
measures to control development of new uses, such as medical marijuana
dispensaries.

A moratorium in Somerville would provide time for the city's Legal
Department to carefully study the new state regulations and time for
the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and the
Health Department to review the city's current ordinances to ensure
they adequately address this new use.

"Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of
medical marijuana with 63 percent of the vote last November, and I
will honor the decision of the voters," Mayor Curtatone said. "As with
any new use or business in the city, we want to be diligent,
thoughtful and educated before making any decisions."
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MAP posted-by: Matt