
Cities and towns have not been allowed to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries since 2012, but under a recent law, bylaws passed by Northboro and Bellingham voters to ban such facilities have been approved by state Attorney General Maura Healy’s office.
An AG spokeswoman on Friday, said under state Chapter 94 G, municipalities can prohibit medical marijuana establishments through zoning. She said the approval of the towns’ bylaws was based on Section 56 of Chapter 55 Acts of 2017, “An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana.” That subsection states: “The (Cannabis Control) Commission shall not approve any application for a license submitted by such a registered marijuana dispensary if, pursuant to chapter 94G of the General Laws, a host community, as defined in said chapter 94G, has prohibited marijuana establishments under said chapter 94G.”
The change, however, does not appear to be well known, even by the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, the group that represents the more than 52,000 registered medical marijuana patients.
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