On Monday, December 11, the Mattapoisett Planning Board will hold a Public Forum at 7:00 pm at the Old Hammondtown School Cafetorium for the purpose of first hearing an informational presentation about “An Act to Ensure Safe Access To Marijuana” by Katherine Laughman, Esq., of KP Law, and then to hear your comments and questions regarding this new law permitting retail recreational marijuana establishments in Massachusetts cities and towns including Mattapoisett.
On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and the sale of marijuana in retail establishments (Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016). On July 28, 2017, Governor Baker signed the General Court’s revised law on the subject entitled, “An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana” (the “Act”), adopted as Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017 addresses aspects of the retail sales of marijuana.
The Town of Mattapoisett should have an open discussion about this Law and how it relates to Mattapoisett and what do the Mattapoisett residents feel regarding the retail sale of marijuana in the Town. The State will begin accepting applications for retail marijuana establishments on April 1, 2018. The Town has various options that can be considered and the presenter from KP Law will discuss them in detail this evening. Options can include a temporary moratorium on marijuana establishments to permit the Town time to review the impacts of the Act on the Town and if Zoning and General Bylaws should be considered to locally regulate this type of retail sales. The Town could consider possible prohibition of retail marijuana sales in Mattapoisett. The town could consider no changes to its current zoning and allow establishments under current existing Zoning Bylaws.
As your Planning Board, we need to hear from you as to what you wish for us to consider regarding retail marijuana sales in Mattapoisett and we ask that you attend and share with us your thoughts.
Timelines for various considerations are tight, so this is our Community’s opportunity to give input into this matter.
For further information, please contact the Planning Board at 508-758-4100 ext. 215.