Massachusetts voters legalized medical marijuana in 2012. In 2016, Massachusetts voters also passed a new law, allowing recreational use of marijuana for adults age 21 and older.
While marijuana is technically legal at this time in Massachusetts, according to PotGuide.com recreational sales are not yet allowed. State lawmakers are currently tasked with creating the appropriate framework for dispensaries to begin selling recreational marijuana.
Last week, the issue of approving or denying the opening of dispensaries to sell marijuana in Lawrence was discussed by the City Council. After a long meeting, with dozens of people who came to speak pro and against, the unanimous vote of the Council was NO!
We fully agree with the limitation of two minutes per presentation during public participation, due to the number of people interested in talking about the subject, but at the same time, allowing the public to speak indefinitely about the beneficial or harmful effects of marijuana during the public hearing seemed unnecessary.
The time to discuss whether marijuana is good or bad is long past. Like it or not, its use is approved. The issue to be discussed was whether we in Lawrence want to sell it or not. A NO vote does not mean that we have won the battle; we must now show the legislature our feelings, for which we need to collect 5,000 signatures of registered voters in a limited time and we only hear Councilor at-Large Modesto Maldonado speaking on the subject.
We are struck by the fact that Councilor Maldonado is running for mayor and he has taken the lead on this issue. There are so many other candidates vying for that position and for the city council who did not come forth. Former mayor William Lantigua was the only mayoral candidate who came forward to support Modesto’s effort to prohibit the sale of marijuana in Lawrence. Are the other candidates afraid of losing votes if they take that position, or do they agree with having it sold in this city?
