EASTHAMPTON — The city is moving closer to establishing a recreational marijuana ordinance, with the possibility of allowing on-site consumption.
Last Tuesday, the Planning Board voted unanimously to pass a proposed ordinance and submit it to the City Council. The Council’s Ordinance Subcommittee will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in conference room 1 at the Municipal Building, 50 Payson Ave.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is still working on state regulations which are expected to be in place by March.
The proposed ordinance states that no more than 12 marijuana retailers would be allowed in the city. Their allowed hours of operation would have to be within 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Marijuana cultivators would have to submit an energy use plan to the city to “demonstrate best practices for energy conservation and ensure there are no undue impacts on the natural environment.”
A security plan would also have to be put in place, the proposed ordinance states, “to demonstrate that there is limited undue burden of the city public safety officials as a result of the proposed marijuana establishment.”
Establishments would have to be 200 feet away from schools and child care centers, according to the proposal. “Marijuana plants, products, and paraphernalia shall not be visible from outside the building in which the marijuana establishment is located,” the ordinance states.
Zoning for recreational marijuana stops are proposed for the highway business district which includes Northampton Street, or Route 110, the downtown business district, which includes Union and Cottage streets, and the mill industrial district.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.