Joint Meeting with the Board of Selectmen

Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Recommendations

April 23, 2018

• Voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approved a ballot initiative in November, 2016 which legalizes the sale of marijuana throughout the Commonwealth.

• Easton Town Meeting adopted a moratorium on the sale of marijuana within the Town to run through June 30, 2018.

• The Selectmen, in order to adequately plan for the necessary regulation and/or prohibition of marijuana within the moratorium period, voted to establish the Marijuana Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC).

• MPAC consists of representatives of the Selectmen, Planning and Zoning Board, Board of Health, and Police Department.

• MPAC’s mission is to report policy advisories and/or recommendations for policy planning as it pertains to the passage of House Bill No. 3818 An Act to ensure safe access to medical and adult-use of marijuana in the Commonwealth, to the Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Planning and Zoning Board, and any other applicable public body.

• 1. Identify the potential impact of businesses that sell, grow, manufacture, or test recreational marijuana products;

• 2. Identify potential conflicts or vulnerabilities that may exist between the Town’s position on Medical marijuana and Recreational marijuana businesses;

• 3. Identify potential impact of provisions within the law that allow for the growth of marijuana plants by individuals in their residences;

• 4. Identify and possibly suggest the promulgation of regulations and/or by laws and policies as they pertain to the regulation or prohibition of businesses that sell, grow, manufacture, or test recreational marijuana products.

September 2017: Establishment of MPAC

Fall 2017: Organization of Committee

December 2017: Solicitation of Public

Comment

Winter 2017/18: Research and Review

Winter 2018: Additional Public Input

Winter/Spring 2018: Draft Findings and Recommendations

Early Spring 2018: Final Recommendations to Selectmen and PZB in

anticipation of May 2018 Town Meeting

May 2018: Annual Town Meeting Adoption of

Zoning and/or General Bylaws regulating

Marijuana in Easton

1. Complete Prohibition –Article 35* & 36*

• Easton as a Town voted against the recreational marijuana referendum initiative in 2016

• By majority vote at Town Meeting, Easton can vote to prohibit all uses

• Adopt general bylaw to prohibit public consumption (Article 35*, majority vote)

• Amend zoning bylaw to prohibit all establishments (Article 36*, 2/3 majority vote)

If Town Meeting votes yes, items 37 and 38 will be dismissed. If town Meeting votes NO to articles 35 and 36, we will move to 37 and 38.

2. Allow Some Uses –Article 37* & 38*

• Ban on retail recreational marijuana sales with the option for cultivation, manufacture and testing facilities via an overlay district and special licenses only available by a vote of the Board of Selectmen

• Amend general laws accordingly (Article 37*, majority vote)

• Amend zoning Bylaw accordingly (Article 38*, 2/3 majority vote)

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Easton General Bylaws to delete, Chapter 188 – Public Consumption of Marijuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol, in its entirety and replace with a new Chapter 188, Marijuana, which would prohibit public consumption of marijuana and all types of recreational Marijuana Establishments as defined in G.L. c. 94G §1 including marijuana cultivator, marijuana testing facility, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business in the Town of Easton, or take any other action relative thereto, …

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Easton Zoning Bylaws by amending Appendix A, Section C. Agricultural Uses, Section D. Office and Laboratory, Section E, Retail Business and Consumer Service Establishments, Section G. Industrial, Wholesale, and Transportation Uses, Section H. Other Principal Uses, and Section I. Accessory Uses, as well as the definitions section, which would prohibit all types of recreational Marijuana Establishments as defined in G.L. c. 94G §1 including marijuana cultivator, marijuana testing facility, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business in the Town of Easton, or take any other action relative thereto, as follows: …

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Easton General Bylaws to delete, Chapter 188 – Public Consumption of Marijuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol, in its entirety and replace with a new Chapter 188, Marijuana, which would prohibit public consumption of marijuana and would prohibit Marijuana Retailers, as defined the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94G, § 1, in the Town of Easton, and require the licensure of all other Marijuana Establishments, namely Craft Marijuana Cultivator Cooperatives, Marijuana Cultivators, Marijuana Product Manufacturers, and Marijuana Testing Facilities, or take any other action relative thereto, as follows: …

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Easton Zoning Bylaws by amending Appendix A, Section E, Retail Business and Consumer Service Establishments, Section H. Other Principal Uses, and Section I. Accessory Uses, which would prohibit recreational Marijuana Retailers as defined in G.L. c. 94G § 1 in the Town of Easton, and to amend the Zoning Bylaws to create an overlay district for all other types of recreational Marijuana Establishments as defined as defined in G.L. c. 94G § 1, and to amend the definitions section or take any other action relative thereto, as follows: …

Article to amend general bylaw prohibiting all uses/establishments

Move to Zoning Article prohibiting all uses/establishments

Article to allow all uses/establishments, except retail

Move to Zoning Article allowing all uses/establishments, except retail

All retail and other recreational uses will be allowed

Fails Fails

Passes Passes

Where our neighbors stand (per 4-20-18)