Montgomery Town Hall and Library. (Photo: Town of Montgomery website)
MONTGOMERY – A Special Town Meeting is being planned on Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on a new bylaw proposed by the Planning Board that would prohibit marijuana establishments in the town.
The new bylaw would prohibit all commercial marijuana establishments in the Town of Montgomery, such as cultivation/farming, processing, testing and retail facilities. This new bylaw will not limit any personal recreational marijuana growth or use in accordance with current state laws. A vote of “yes” on this new bylaw will not infringe on personal use or growth, but will prohibit all commercial marijuana enterprises within the town.
Chris Gilbert, chairperson of the Planning Board, said the new bylaw follows the discussion and votes taken at two hearings in town on the subject this year. The first, in late March, was on a moratorium for marijuana businesses in the town. The second meeting on Sept. 18, was to discuss the prohibition of businesses. Gilbert said at both meetings the residents who attended, numbering from the high teens to more than twenty, unanimously approved the proposals.
Gilbert said that to his knowledge, the town has not received any marijuana business proposals.
Since residents of Montgomery voted in favor of legalizing the use of recreational marijuana in 2016 with a vote of 268 yes, and 232 no, the new bylaw must also be included as a ballot question in the November 6, 2018 election according to state law. Both the Special Town Meeting vote and the ballot question must pass for adoption of the new bylaw.
