Marijuana Forum Set for Sept 11

Town officials are holding a public marijuana forum on Sept. 11 in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m.

Discussions will include a marijuana moratorium for sales and marijuana “model” zoning bylaw.

Representatives from every town board and commission will be on hand to answer questions about the latest in marijuana regulations and how the town of Winthrop will handle it.

Town Council President Ron Vecchia said “this forum gives the citizens of Winthrop a chance to discuss legalized recreational which the town supported with an affirmative vote in 2016. The state has set up a Cannabis Control Commission to aid in regulations.”

Local cities and towns can now enact zoning that would cover marijuana businesses or they can ban it from their town.

“This helps set up guidelines and regulations,” Vecchia said.

The town can decide to have a certain area for marijuana businesses or take up a petition against the marijuana businesses and put the issue before the town in another vote.

“We will have a sample bylaw available for residents to look at,” Vecchia said.