NORTHAMPTON — Five pieces of legislation to regulate the recreational marijuana industry in the city, expected to launch in Massachusetts this summer, were sent to committee by the City Council at its Thursday meeting.
The discussion, however, looks to be only begining.
Four of the pieces are ordinances dealing with zoning for the industry, while the fifth is a financial order that would have the city exercise its option to a impose a local 3 percent tax on marijuana sales, the highest amount allowed under state law. All five pieces of legislation were introduced by Mayor David Narkewicz. None of the zoning ordinances would place a cap on the number of marijuana establishments in the city.
Recreational marijuana in Massachusetts was legalized by Question 4, a ballot measure that passed in 2016. However, it remains an illegal substance under federal law.
Four members of the public weighed in on the marijuana issue during the council’s public comment period.
Cynthia Suopis, a member of the Board of Health, spoke in favor of introducing a cap on marijuana businesses, as well as devoting some of the city’s tax money received from marijuana sales toward education and substance abuse prevention.
“It is our responsibility to educate,” said Suopis, although she did note that she wasn’t saying that marijuana is a gateway drug.
Suopis also noted that liquor licenses are already capped in the city. This cap is the result of state law.
Joanne Levin, chairwoman of the Board of Health, was supportive of both the idea of a cap and of using some of the tax money for prevention. She also asked that both the Board of Health and Northampton Prevention Coalition be included in the marijuana regulatory discussion.
“I think they should be invited for their input,” she said.
Ananda Lennox, a mother and addiction professional with the Northampton Prevention Coalition, said she had supported Question 4 as a social justice issue. She said she was speaking to “back up” the two health board members who spoke, and also raised the issue of placing a ban on smoking marijuana in public.
“It’s a nuisance,” she said.
She also brought up the idea of restricting the outlet density of marijuana retail establishments.
Heather Warner, a parent and prevention specialist with the Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY) Coalition, asked that the city hold public forums on marijuana regulation. Additionally, Warner advocated for a 500-foot buffer from schools for marijuana retail establishments, as opposed to the 200-foot buffer currently being proposed in one of the ordinances, and floated the idea of extending buffers to addiction recovery centers and faith communities. She also spoke in favor of a cap.
The voting on the financial order was moved to the ordinance part of the council meeting so that marijuana policy could be discussed as a whole.
In setting up the discussion, City Council President Ryan O’Donnell said that he wanted the council to figure out how to best accommodate a future public forum.
Ward 7 Councilor Alisa Klein said she wanted the Board of Health, Northampton Prevention Coalition, and SPIFFY to have an opportunity to present their expertise, saying it was important to bring that expertise into the room.
On the issue of a cap, Narkewicz said he didn’t think a cap should come through zoning but from the City Council itself. Councilor At-Large Bill Dwight also noted that, when it comes to the cap on liquor licenses, there was a sentiment in the city to eliminate or raise it.
Ward 1 Councilor Maureen Carney asked that the idea of a public forum be separated from the process around the legislation. This sentiment was received well by the other councilors.
“We can develop ordinances as we go,” said Dwight.
As such, the financial order was referred to the Finance Committee, which will take it up at its next meeting on Feb. 15, while the ordinances were referred to the legislative matters committee, which will take them up at its meeting on Feb. 27.
It was also decided that a wider community forum on recreational marijuana will be hosted by the council’s Community Resources Committee. The date for this forum is not yet known.
Earlier in the meeting, Councilor James Nash noted that the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission would be holding a public hearing on its draft regulations regulating the recreational marijuana industry on Monday, at Holyoke Community College. The meeting will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. in Leslie Philips Theater, and Narkewicz also encouraged people to attend.