Framingham Selectmen Direct Staff to Prepare Marijuana Zoning Options by August

FRAMINGHAM — April 27, 2017 — Framingham selectmen received a detailed legal briefing on local-control options for recreational marijuana establishments but took no votes, directing staff instead to return with recommendations by mid-August. Town counsel Amanda Zeretti told the board that without bylaws or ordinances in place by July 1, 2018, marijuana establishments would open subject only to state law, with no local licensing authority and no local sales tax collected. She outlined a menu of options including a 2 percent local sales tax, a temporary moratorium, time-place-and-manner bylaws, and zoning restrictions, while warning that the "not unreasonably impracticable" standard in the statute, as interpreted by the Attorney General's Municipal Law Unit, bars controls so onerous as to prevent operation entirely. Two registered medical marijuana dispensaries are already expected to open in Framingham by year's end and would also be entitled to sell recreational marijuana once the retail market launches. With roughly 28 off-premises alcohol licenses in town, the statute would allow Framingham to cap recreational retailers at approximately six by general bylaw. The board agreed to hold a public hearing before bringing any article to the October Special Town Meeting.