Two bylaws regulating the cultivation and sale of marijuana in Harvard passed at Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, following a spirited discussion and some minor amendments. The only major amendment requires the police chief to inspect and approve the security measures of marijuana establishments, while the others merely clarified the bylaws’ wording.
With these bylaws in place, a single marijuana establishment will be allowed, by special permit, within the commercial district along Ayer Road with up to 6,000 square feet of floor space, up to 1,500 of which may be devoted to retail sale. An excise tax of 3 percent will be collected on recreational marijuana sold. Within the agricultural-residential district (most of the town), marijuana cultivation of up to 10,000 square feet per lot will be allowed, provided the plants are kept out of view of public ways and set back 200 feet from property lines.
At the Planning Board’s request, the marijuana bylaw discussion was split in half, with the first half focused on the commercial district and the second on the agricultural-residential district.
Lucas Thayer of South Shaker Road, speaking on behalf of those in the community interested in pursuing marijuana cultivation or sale, said that they found the bylaws fair and acceptable, and he urged the town to pass them to grant farmers an additional revenue source.
Suzanne Daines takes the microphone at Town Meeting to express concerns about a marijuana bylaw. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Bob Mayerson of Stow Road, CEO of Patriot Care, a company that runs many medical marijuana dispensaries, including one in Lowell, spoke about the security practices that he prefers to use, and proposed the amendment requiring the police chief to approve security measures. The Planning Board had no objection to this amendment. Mayerson also offered tours of his operations to those interested in learning from his practices.
Suzanne Daines of Warren Avenue spoke about the health risks of marijuana, reading a statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics. She proposed an amendment to limit the sale of marijuana to medical sales only, which was rejected as unnecessary, as Harvard already has provisions for the sale of medical marijuana.
Friendly amendments
Selectwoman Alice von Loesecke proposed an amendment to the wording of the bylaw, changing the words “retail space” to “retail sales floor space,” which the Planning Board accepted.
Selectwoman Kara Minar spoke about the potential dangers of impaired drivers on Ayer Road visiting a marijuana retailer, and also proposed an amendment expanding the requirement for police chief approval to cover security around cultivation as well as sale, which the Planning Board accepted.
Bill Marinelli of Stow Road noted that the proposed bylaws referenced state regulations, which he felt was bad practice, as the town’s bylaws could change if the state altered its regulations. He proposed an amendment that moved the current language of state regulations into Harvard’s bylaws, preventing such an event from occuring, which the Planning Board accepted.
