Medical Marijuana Bylaw Hearing Set

Proposed zoning regarding Massachusetts' new medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation law will reach Westborough voters in three weeks.

The planning board's public hearing on its zoning bylaw proposal is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Forbes Municipal Building Room 23.

The board posted the public hearing notice on Westborough's website Thursday.

The proposed bylaw is expected to be on Westborough's March 16 annual town meeting warrant.

A copy of the proposal is available at the planning office at the Forbes building, the hearing notice notes.

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 law allows the state Department of Public Health to authorize “no more than 35 treatment centers” in 2013, according to the ballot question.

Last month, selectmen and the school committee asked Westborough's legislators to delay implementing the law for six months to a year. The delay would allow the state Department of Public Health, as well as municipalities, time to prepare to handle the law, which took effect Jan. 1.

In November, the planning board discussed proposing zoning restricting – or possibly banning -- dispensaries and cultivation here.

The public hearing notice says the zoning proposal seeks "to establish specific zoning standards and regulations for medical marijuana centers (treatment and dispensing facilities), medical marijuana infused products, medical marijuana paraphernalia, manufacturers, and medical marijuana growing and cultivation operations either related to Medical Marijuana Treatment Facilities and Dispensaries or the personal cultivation by qualified patients or cultivation by personal caregivers on the behalf of qualified patients or other users.

"It also intends to regulate the siting, design, placement, safety, monitoring, modification, and removal of Medical Marijuana Treatment and Dispensing Facilities; and Marijuana Cultivation."

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