Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 26, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 11 "There's often an awful lot more support for our issue when people are able to vote in the privacy of a ballot box." Bill Downing, activist, Massachusetts chapter, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws A Bank Built for Two Figure 1 - Tandem Bicycle Equal Housing Lender I Member FDIC | Member DIF If we were a bike, we'd be the kind with two seats and extra pedals, because you can always travel farther with more people pedalling. As a mutual bank, we answer directly to our customers, so we're 100% invested in their success. It's a far cry from banking as usual, but that's what makes the ride worth taking. North of Ordinary BankMainStreet.com | 508-481-8300 approved recreational marijuana last November, the state Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker voted soon after to push back the date for when shops can open from the original January 2018 date. Until then, possession of up to 1 ounce of pot and growing at home are still legal. Legislators have been considering how to pass their own bill determining taxes on marijuana sales, and whether local boards of selectmen would be given the power to ban stores, instead of requiring a referendum vote from residents. A recent House bill was pulled after negative feedback. Potential ban in Worcester Worcester hasn't yet taken action, but the City Council voted last month to have the city administration prepare a draft ordinance for a potential ban. In the meantime, City Manager Edward Augustus said he's been advo- cating to the Legislature for cities and towns to have maximum flexibility in how they can best regulate such shops. Regulation is needed "so we can make judgments that we feel are in the best inter- ests of the city of Worcester," Augustus said. City residents approved the new law with nearly 55 percent of the vote. Several options exist for communi- ties, according to Worcester City Solicitor David Moore, the head of the city's Law Department. It could limit the number of recreational marijuana permits to 20 percent of liquor licenses (which would be 15, in Worcester's Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus case), limit recreational permits to less than the number of medical marijuana facilities permitted (five in Worcester's case), or an outright prohibition, which is more likely to be challenged on its legality. City councilors haven't indicated which direction they want to go, but Councilor Michael Gaffney said dur- ing a city council meeting he wants the decision made by those who choose to legalize recreational marijuana in the first place: the voters. "They went out, and they voted. I think we have to keep in mind before we start talking about bans and every- thing else: the will of the people spoke at the ballot box," Gaffney said. A ban is the wrong idea, he added, because it tells voters that councilors are usurping their choice. "The people spoke," he said. "We need to listen." Medical marijuana regulations In the meantime, the Worcester Board of Health approved new regula- tions this month on medical marijuana dispensaries, responding to an earlier state law passed in 2012. The regulations require dispensa- ries to obtain state Department of Public Health approval and an annual license from the Board of Health, which will review applicants for com- pliance with guidelines such as a security plan. No dis- pensary can be within 300 feet of a school, day care center, library, park or other dispensary, and can operate only from 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. They cannot sell anything other than marijuana, and must sell only to qualifying patients or caregivers who have a registration card from a doctor. Violations are subject to a $300 fine or license suspension of up to 30 days. The regulations go into effect Aug. 1. Worcester has signed four agree- ments with medical marijuana appli- cants, but none have opened yet. W P H O T O / F I L E

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