Mashpee residents could face a ballot question at this spring’s town election on whether to ban retailers from selling recreational marijuana in town.
The Mashpee Board of Selectmen on Monday, January 23, voted unanimously to place the matter before voters. It would appear first at May Town Meeting, before going to voters at a subsequent election.
Mashpee joins a number of other Massachusetts towns, including Falmouth and Bourne, in bringing forward the local-control option in the aftermath of Novembers legalization referendum.
You can never go wrong putting the question on a ballot, Selectman John J. Cahalane said Monday.
By approving Question 4 on the November ballot, Massachusetts voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana. The legislation allows for the opening of retail marijuana stores.
In Mashpee, more voters cast their ballots against legalization than in favor. The margin in Mashpee was close: 4,126 voted in favor of legalization, while 4,749 voted against the measure, and 109 left the question blank.
The legalization measure allows each town in Massachusetts to take a vote to "opt out" of the pot shop portion of the law.
The proposed townwide ballot would not reverse the legalization of marijuana use in Mashpee or the right to grow plants at residences in the town, as was passed in the November ballot.
Not all are pleased with the direction of the board. Mashpee resident Richard D. Elrick, an advocate for recreational marijuana, said that the selectmens decision is premature and hypocritical.
He pointed out that the town has allowed several alcohol stores to open, yet they have a problem with one or two recreational marijuana stores?
Mr. Elrick said that it is irresponsible to promote a more dangerous substance than marijuana ; that banning stores from Mashpee would support the black market; and the town could lose out on a steady flow of revenue.
This is a slap in the face for the 4,126 Mashpee folks that voted for this," Mr. Elrick said. Its shortsighted to allow the more dangerous [alcohol] store to open and to prohibit the less dangerous one.
The chairman of the board, Andrew R. Gottlieb, said that he was approached by selectmen in the region to see if they would consider the ban. He said the measure would appear on the spring town ballot.
Town Manager Rodney C. Collins said that he wanted voters to have the full picture of the retail marijuana decision, especially in regards to the revenue earned from a recreational marijuana tax.
I think we owe it to the people to put it in perspective, Mr. Collins said.
The town would collect a 2 percent local tax from a pot shop.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Mashpee May Ban Retail Marijuana Shops
Author: Sam Houghton
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