No Marlborough Medical Marijuana Until 2014

The City Council voted to keep medical marijuana dispensaries out of the city for a year Monday night.

The vote came after months of discussions with the plan following a model that was recently approved in Burlington. The moratorium was established in order to give the city time to study the new regulations and how best to implement them, said officials.

“I live in Marlborough. I don’t want to be a guinea pig," said Councilor Robert Seymore when the issue was first discussed.

The vote does not keep residents from obtaining medical marijuana cards, stated officials, but rather addresses the dispensaries themselves in the moratorium and accompanying zoning changes.

The talk before the 10 to 0 vote Monday night was brief. Only Councilor Kathleen Robey spoke extensively on the issue, saying that she was satisfied that the length of time was appropriate. Previously, she had felt that a year may be too long.

Councilor Mark Oram had previously said this was a humanitarian issue and that the city should not wait for a year and that he would prefer six months. He did not speak on the issue at Monday's meeting.

The moratorium will be in place through June 30, 2014.