In advance of Wednesday’s public forum, the Marijuana Study Committee has released this FAQ document explaining the ramifications of the state’s 2016 vote to legalize recreational marijuana, the pros and cons of allowing marijuana businesses in Lincoln, and a town decision timeline. The forum takes place on Wednesday, April 25 from 7–9 p.m. in Town Hall.
After Lincoln residents approved the 2016 ballot question, the town imposed a temporary moratorium on cannabis businesses while it decides what to do about the issue. The moratorium expires in November and most likely cannot be renewed. Any town—including Lincoln—whose residents voted in favor of the measure in 2016 must take certain steps if it decides it doesn’t want to allow commercial medical or recreational cannabis cultivation, processing, or sales within its borders.
To enact a partial or full ban, a Town Meeting vote to adopt a zoning bylaw amendment restricting or banning cannabis businesses must pass by a two-thirds majority, followed by a simple majority at a town election. A partial ban could allow only one type of business use, such as cultivation, testing, manufacturing, or retail businesses to the exclusion of others. The town could also opt to do nothing, in which case the state could begin issuing licenses to qualified Lincoln‐based marijuana establishments of any type permitted by state statute. Lincoln voters cannot prohibit personal use or cultivation of marijuana.
Assuming that the June 9 Special Town Meeting on the school and community center projects is not expanded to include the marijuana question, there would be a second town forum in September, followed by a Special Town Meeting and special election in October, according to the committee’s FAQ document.
Leave a Reply