Medical Marijuana Restrictions, Not Ban, Await Voters

The Westborough Planning Board will ask voters on Saturday to approve zoning restrictions -- not a total ban -- on medical marijuana dispensaries and growing in town, Chairman Lester Hensley said today.

The bylaw proposal included the restrictions as a fall-back option in case the Massachusetts attorney general's office struck down such a local ban. Wednesday, the attorney general struck down Wakefield's ban, according to the Boston Globe.

Saturday's annual town meeting starts at 1 p.m. at Westborough High School.

Hensley said the planning board will ask voters to approve the bylaw proposal, but striking the language regarding the ban.

Medical marijuana treatment and dispensing facilities, and marijuana cultivation, would be allowed in the adult entertainment district by special permit from the planning board.

"The planning board anticipated the possibility that the attorney general could rule either way," Hensley said.

"We took the time to thoughtfully develop underlying zoning."

The proposal is the planning board's response to Massachusetts' new medical marijuana law, which took effect Jan. 1.

Voters approved the new law at the Nov. 6 statewide election. Westborough residents supported the measure, Question 3 on the ballot, 5,367 to 3,347.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health plans to present draft state regulations on March 29, the Globe reports.