OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town of Old Orchard Beach has extended a moratorium on medical marijuana storefronts.
The Town Council enacted a 60-day moratorium in February to give the town time to draft an ordinance regulating places that sell medical marijuana that resemble retail storefronts in terms of signs, hours of operation and accessibility to customers. The town, according to its charter, can only enact a moratorium for 60 days at a time.
The Town Council renewed the moratorium for another 60 days on Tuesday, and Town Manager Larry Mead said the town may renew it again in the future to allow the Planning Board adequate time to work on an ordinance.
Mead said the Planning Board has begun discussions regarding the proposed ordinance. After the board drafts an ordinance, residents will be able to weigh in on it at a public hearing. Once the board recommends a suggested ordinance, it will go to the Town Council for a final vote.
State law has designated eight medical marijuana dispensary districts, allowing one dispensary per district. The dispensaries operate as nonprofit businesses and are regulated by the Department of Health and Human Service. The dispensary closest to Old Orchard Beach is in Biddeford.
The state is considering changes in laws that could allow more medical marijuana dispensaries or allow medical marijuana to be sold from store fronts.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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