Saugus approves marijuana dispensary moratorium

SAUGUS – There will be no medical marijuana dispensaries in Saugus until at least next September with a moratorium approved in Tuesday?s Special Town Meeting.Town Manager Scott Crabtree said the issue of regulating the dispensaries would be “coming down the pipe for all communities,” since no Massachusetts municipality has the power to ban one from moving into town.But what Saugus can do is restrict and regulate the dispensary through zoning bylaws and Board of Health regulations, as long as they do not contradict state law, explained Economic Development Coordinator Robert Luongo.?Whatever we do, we can?t negate the law that allows a medical marijuana facility,” said Luongo. “We can add more bells to ring and hoops to jump through, but can?t make it so impossible that there can?t be a facility in the town.”According to the Special Town Meeting article, the moratorium will allow town boards, committees and officials an extended period of time to study the possible legal, land use, public safety and public health impact of a local dispensary on the town and make recommendations for Town Meeting approval.An example of one way the town could regulate the dispensary is to restrict the land use to the adult entertainment district, said Crabtree.The Planning Board recommended that the town adopt the moratorium, effective until Sept. 30, 2014, after a public hearing held Oct. 10.Just before the vote was taken, Selectman Debra Panetta told voters that the board had already received an inquiry from a company that wanted to open a dispensary in Saugus on Oct. 4. “I just thought it was important for you all to know,” she said from the podium.Town Meeting members swiftly approved the article, with 30 out of 32 voting “yes.”