HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3291        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3163

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regulating the sale of recreational marijuana.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.

5th Worcester

1/20/2017

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

 

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

 

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

 

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3291        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3163

By Mr. Berthiaume of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3163) of Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr., and others relative to authorizing municipalities to prohibit the creation and operation of marijuana establishments or impose zoning ordinances for locations of retail marijuana establishments.  Marijuana Policy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act regulating the sale of recreational marijuana.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 94G of the General Laws, as inserted by Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016, is hereby amended by striking subsection (b) in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Cities and towns may refuse to permit the creation and operation of marijuana establishments within the town or city only if the majority of the voter population in the respective city or town voted against the legalization of recreational marijuana and such city or town does not contain a registered medical marijuana dispensary.

SECTION 2. Said Section 3 is hereby further amended by inserting after subjection (d) the following subsection:-

(e) Local cities and towns may impose zoning ordinances for the location of retail marijuana establishments. If a city or town does not impose a specific zoning ordinance, the regulations shall default to zoning ordinances required by the Department of Public Health for Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. The default zoning ordinance shall require that a retail marijuana establishment be at least 500 feet from an area where children commonly congregate.