recreational marijuana study period — File 204638

CITY  OF  SOMERVILLE
   ORDINANCE  NO.  ___________

   IN  THE  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN:  _______________     AN  ORDINANCE  AMENDING  ARTICLE  7  OF  THE  SOMERVILLE  ZONING  ORDINANCE  TO   INSTITUTE  A  STUDY  PERIOD  UNDER  WHICH  THE  CITY  WILL  REVIEW  RECREATIONAL   MARIJUANA  FACILITIES  PRIOR  TO  PERMITTING  THEM  IN  SOMERVILLE   WHEREAS,  the  residents  of  the  Commonwealth  voted  in  2016  to  permit  recreational  marijuana   facilities  in  Massachusetts;  and,     WHEREAS,  the  Commonwealth  has  established  laws  and  is  in  the  process  of  developing   regulations  for  the  operation  of  recreational  marijuana  facilities;  and,   WHEREAS,  the  City  seeks  to  ensure  that  there  is  adequate  opportunity  for  community  outreach   and  discussion  about  the  proper  locations  and  operating  conditions  of  recreational  marijuana   facilities;  and,     WHEREAS,  communities  have  been  permitted  to  seek  time  through  the  end  of  2018  to  study   and  establish  zoning  regulations  for  the  location  and  operating  conditions  of  recreational   marijuana  facilities;  now,     THEREFORE,  be  it  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  in  session  assembled,  that  Article  7  of  the   Somerville  Zoning  Ordinance  is  amended  by  adding  a  new  Section  7.16,  as  follows:     7.16  Recreational  Marijuana  –  Study  Period     The  City  of  Somerville  hereby  adopts  a  temporary  limitation  on  the  use  of  land  or  structures  for   Recreational  Marijuana  Facilities.  The  regulations  of  this  section  shall  remain  in  effect  until   December  21,  2018.  During  this  period,  the  City  will  continue  to  undertake  planning  to  address   the  potential  impacts  of  recreational  marijuana  in  Somerville,  consider  state  regulations   regarding  Recreational  Marijuana  Facilities  and  related  uses,  and  adopt  a  permanent  set  of   zoning  regulations  to  address  the  impacts  and  operation  of  Recreational  Marijuana  Facilities   and  related  uses.    During  this  temporary  limitation  period,  the  operation  of  any  marijuana   establishment,  as  defined  by  G.L.  c.  94G  Section  1,  including  without  limitation,  a  marijuana   cultivator,  testing  facility,  product  manufacturer,  retailer  or  any  other  type  of  licensed   marijuana-­‐related  business,  is  prohibited  in  all  zoning  districts  of  the  city.    This  prohibition  shall   not  apply  to  the  sale,  distribution  or  cultivation  of  marijuana  for  medical  purposes  licensed   under  Chapter  369  of  the  Acts  of  2012,  and  permitted  by  special  permit  per  Section  7.15  of  this   zoning  ordinance.