Voters passed the legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts way back in November 2016. Since then, the legalization movement has overcome a number of obstacles, leading to a July 2018 legalization date. But just because recreational Mary J will be legal in Massachusetts doesn’t mean that it will be accessible. As of March 2018, most of Massachusetts’ municipalities have banned marijuana retail.
What Specifically Is Being Banned?
According to reports issued by Attorney General Maura Healey’s office, 189 of Massachusetts’ 351 municipalities have banned cannabis businesses.
This extends to marijuana retailers and cultivators.
130 of those bans expire on July 1st and were put in place to give local legislators time to pass marijuana zoning laws.
The other 59 bans don’t have a fixed end date and could resemble the prohibition-style dry municipalities in Massachusetts where alcohol sale is not permitted.
Who Supports These Bans?
In 2016, 54 percent of Massachusetts residents voted to legalize recreational weed. Despite support for legalization, it would seem that few want marijuana to be sold in their neighborhood. Even the 162 communities that haven’t banned marijuana retail have their own, often stringent, marijuana sale regulations.
As Adam Chapdelaine, Arlington’s town manager told The Boston Globe, “There are definitely people who say, ‘Yeah, I want it legal, but I don’t want it next door.’ ”
Locally, the anti-marijuana movement—made up of parents, public health campaigners and conservatives—has gained ground. According to the Boston Globe, out of 100 anti-pot statutes in the state, all but ten have passed.
Additionally, not all towns require their residents to vote on marijuana bans. In municipalities that voted against legalizing marijuana, elected officials can decide whether to ban it or