ATHOL — Members of the planning and community development board heard comments from both sides of the recreational marijuana issue at a public forum last week soliciting input from townspeople.
Nearly 57 percent (2,828) of Athol voters were in favor of Question 4, which state voters passed a year ago to allow for the nonmedical use of marijuana by adults. Gov. Charlie Baker signed “An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana,” the state Legislature’s revised law on the subject, on July 28. The newly appointed Cannabis Control Commission is expected to adopt regulations, guidelines and protocols on March 15, 2018, for the issuance of recreational marijuana licenses.
Athol’s planning and community development board must develop zoning regulations before the control commission’s adoption of regulations in order to meet statutory hearing and town meeting notice requirements.
Dr. Rebecca Bialecki, who works for Heywood Healthcare, was the first to speak to the roughly 30 people in attendance after a slide presentation by Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith Thursday night. She was adamant about her opposition to marijuana, but acknowledged that town voters gave their blessing and urged the board to figure out the associated zoning matters. She said she is still concerned about children’s access to marijuana, as it has a damaging effect on developing brains.
Don Pari angrily stood up and said the marijuana issue is being shoved down townspeople’s throats. He said he fears having a registered marijuana dispensary near the Market Basket supermarket in North Quabbin Commons and having children see pot products and ask their parents or guardians for “a marijuana cupcake.”
“It’s stupid. It’s stupid,” he said before walking out of Town Hall’s Memorial Hall. “And you haven’t heard the last from me either.”
Pari told The Recorder that Athol is in its best position since he moved to town 14 years ago and he believes recreational marijuana will be a backward step.
Virginia “Ginger” Doak said she supports medical marijuana because she has chronic back pain caused by falling down a flight of stairs, but she thinks recreational use is a bad idea.
“I hear stories of middle school children using pills, marijuana,” she said, adding that she has heard Colorado has seen a higher crime rate and an influx “people losing enthusiasm, people getting lazy” since voters there legalized recreational pot in 2012.
“It is a gateway to other drugs,” she added.
Jason Avant said recreational marijuana is projected to bring in $64 million in state tax revenue in the first year of legalization. He said he thinks downtown Athol would be a good spot for an registered marijuana dispensary and he pushed back at the notion that people will be changed by marijuana.
“We’re not going to turn into Cheech and Chong because all of a sudden we have a store,” he said.
Herb Wheeler, who has owned Flowerland at 501 Main St. for 38 years, said his son works in the marijuana industry in Colorado and encouraged people to educate themselves on the benefits the regulation and windfall of tax money have had on the state.
According to Smith’s presentation, the state commission will begin accepting applications for recreational marijuana licenses no later than April 1, 2018, and can begin issuing licenses as of June 1. The town can adopt a temporary moratorium, a tool available to communities to provide additional time for Athol residents to consider regulations for recreational marijuana-related land uses, and reasonable “time, place and matter regulations” for recreational marijuana establishments. Onsite consumption would not be allowed. There are currently no dispensaries in Athol. The town adopted zoning for medical marijuana on June 9, 2014.
Some in attendance objected to the sample questions Smith provided in his presentation, saying they were negative. Smith apologized and said they were merely a guideline.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @DomenicPoli