Monday, April 22, 2013
A moratorium gives city needed time, according to a medical professional.
A moratorium on medical marijuana benefits the city and residents, a Board of Health Appointee, and medical professional, told city officials last week. "It diffuses the fear and that's what needs to be done," Respiratory Therapist James Griffin told the Personnel Committee last week. "[City officials] are taking the necessary steps to do it well." Griffin appeared before the committee after being put up for appointment by Mayor Arthur Vigeant. The licensed respiratory therapist was asked about the moratorium by committee member and City Councilor Robert Seymore, who proposed the moratorium to the council. Seymore said he wanted feedback from a medical professional on a moratorium for medical marijuana. The moratorium would keep marijuana …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
City officials have proposed language that would keep marijuana dispensaries out of the city until 2014.
The City Council took the first step towards changes that would keep marijuana dispensaries out of Marlborough through June 30, 2014. “I don’t see why we need to be guinea pigs," said Councilor Robert Seymore who spoke to the proposed zoning changes. "I don’t see what the need is to have a dispensary here so quickly in Marlborough." The moratorium on dispensaries mirrors one recently approved in Burlington and was written up to give the state time to come up with regulations and the city time to establish local guidelines, he said. Guidelines had been proposed for Marlborough, but this moratorium would give additional time for discussion, said Seymore. “We don’t have any protections in place," he said. “I think it makes more sense for us …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Marlborough's plan to regulate, not ban, medical marijuana dispensaries falls in line with a decision by the state attorney general's office to strike down a Wakefield ban on the centers.
The message has come through clear from the state: cities and towns have the ability to regulate but not ban medical marijuana centers within their borders, according to a statement from the attorney general's office. In 2012 a ballot petition was passed, and supported in Marlborough by nearly 10,000 voters, allowing medical marijuana centers. "That law’s purpose cannot be served if a municipality were to prohibit treatment centers within its borders, for if one municipality were allowed to do so, all could do so, making reasonable access impossible," according to a release by the office Thursday. The office concluded that municipalities can adopt other zoning by-laws to regulate the location of dispensaries within the city or town. This …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
City officials have put forward language to regulate Medical Marijuana centers.
In response to the vote on Novermber's ballot, the city has taken the first step in regulating where Marijuana Treatment Centers could be located with a proposed change to the zoning ordinance. “The city of Marlborough did support this," said City Councilor Matt Elder referring to the Nov. 8 election results where Marlborough residents voted nearly two to one in favor of allowing medical marijuana centers. The city is not trying to ban a marijuana treatment center, otherwise referred to as a dispensory, but rather ensure they are located in appropriate areas, he said. “We are not looking to make sure it can’t go anywhere in the city," said Elder. Receive breaking news in your inbox or smartphone by signing up for our newsletter here A …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
The medical marijuana ballot initiative passed on Tuesday, which means up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open in 2013. Would you be OK with having one in town?
Medical marijuana is coming to Massachusetts. The question is: where? The medical marijana ballot initiative that passed in Tuesday's election with 63 percent voter approval means that up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries can open up in the state in 2013. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, but requires rules and regulations be set up by the Department of Public Health. Some towns and cities, such as Quincy, reportedly are already trying to line up regulations that would keep dispensaries out of their municipalities, which have proved troublesome in some of the nine states where medical marijuana dispensaries have been legal. What do you think? Tell us in our comments section below.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Question 3 on the Nov. ballot will ask about legalizing medical marijuana.
This November voters will be able to cast a vote for or against legalizing medical marijuana in the Commonwealth. According to WBUR, proponents have formed the Committee For Compassionate Medicine (Subtitle: ‘Yes’ for Massachusetts Patients). The opponents are at MaVoteNoOnQuestion3.com. Question 3 on the ballot reads: “A yes vote would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers, or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use.” So we want to know: Are you for or against bring medical marijuana to the state?
Paul Bishop
8:16 am on Monday, April 22, 2013
So, it's legal, it's been approved by a two to one margin, and the medical professional brought in for an opinion states that it is medically beneficial to patients. Not one single legitimate presentation as to why there is a moratorium being placed. I guess the will of the people means nothing, and the officials elected to represent our interests (as approved two to one) "know better". Be … more ›