By Sue Ellen Woodcock
It’s going to the a team approach when it comes to the implementation of the new laws legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.
That’s what Board of Health Chairman Nick LoConte said at Tuesday night’s board meeting. He explained that he had spoken with Town Manager Jim McKenna and they agree it’s going to take the effort of the Board of Health, the Licensing Commission and law enforcement to deal with the new state law regarding marijuana.
“It’s going to be a collaborative issue,†LoConte said.
According to the law, effective December 15, 2016, adults may possess and use marijuana. After required licensing procedures, retail marijuana stores will be permitted to open beginning in July, 2018.
LoConte pointed out that with tobacco the Town has the resources of the Six-City Collaborative tobacco control program, which can conduct investigations regarding the use and sale of tobacco. With marijuana enforcement he said there is nothing.
The law allows adults to grow up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 per household. And it mandates that the state treasurer appoint, by March 2017, a three-person Cannabis Control Commission to regulate the new industry. That agency must put forward regulations — on everything from packaging requirements meant to keep kids out of marijuana-infused food to minimum standards for employment in pot shops — by the middle of July 2018.
Director of Inspectional Services Al LeGee said the only way to ban retail sales in Winthrop would be to have a town wide vote to ban sales.
“We’ve gotten through tobacco, we’ll get through this. There will be future meetings,†LeGee said.
What is legal?
What isn’t legal?
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