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Westfield officials really dropped the ball on the marijuana zoning. While Massachusetts is still ahead of most states on the legalization of marijuana, those ahead of us have proven that legalization and the retail sales of marijuana is big business. Yeah, when the retailers finally open up in Westfield, the city will get its share of tax revenue but there will be virtually no benefit to anyone or anything else. There is currently a retail marijuana facility being constructed on Industrial Park Rd. near the Holiday Inn across from where Camfour is. When that is up and running their customer base will come off the Turnpike, make their purchase then get right back on the Turnpike and head out. Maybe, just maybe, Wendy’s and the two nearby gas stations might see some benefit due to proximity. Westfield should have allowed these retailers in the same locations other retailers can set up shop. Think about the benefit downtown businesses might get from increased retail traffic. Currently, a property owner on Coleman Ave is trying to get a zoning change to allow a retailer there. While not the ideal location for the better of the community as a whole, it will at least force the shop’s customers to travel through other areas of town to get there increasing the possibility that they may stop and spend money at another place. One opponent is also trying to get passed an amendment saying, no marijuana retailers within 500 feet of a park. Any park, not just those parks that attract people regularly. This would again limit the areas for a retailer to set up. C’mon Westfield officials, re-think this and use marijuana to make the city better. Don’t just push them to industrial areas where no one can see them, allow them in high visibility spots so that there are more eyes watching them for security and enabling the betterment of the whole city.
