Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


ARTICLE 34
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/MARIJUANA USES
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to allow Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailers and other amendments for consistency with the state regulations for the adult use of marijuana and the medical use of marijuana by amending SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS, SECTION 5.5.3. USE REGULATIONS FOR BUSINESS DISTRICTS, SECTION 5.6.3. USE REGULATIONS FOR MU, PUD, I, T, AND OS DISTRICTS, and SECTION 8.3 STANDARDS FOR MARIJUANA USES; or take any action related thereto. 
Requested by:
(Inserted at the request of the Redevelopment Board) 
Report Excerpt:

On November 30, 2020, the Cannabis Control Commission approved new medical- and adult-use regulations, which brought more parity to the two programs. The regulations approved by the Commission were promulgated and published on January 8, 2021. Specifically, the new regulations created a “Marijuana Delivery Operator” license allowing an operator to buy product wholesale from growers and manufacturers, store the product, and sell to their own customers. Marijuana Delivery Operators are not allowed a public retail presence.

 

The main purpose of the amendment is to define and provide for the new license type, Marijuana Delivery Operator License. The amendment creates a new use “Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailer” and defines it consistent with the Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations. Because this use requires a warehouse facility to store products, its land use is similar to the existing Marijuana Production Facility use defined and allowed in the Zoning Bylaw. As such, the amendment proposes to allow this use, with a Special Permit from the ARB, in the B4 and Industrial Zoning Districts. The ARB believes that these districts are the most appropriate district for this new use.

 

The ARB notes that the demand for this type of use may be limited. The regulations make delivery licenses exclusively available to Economic Empowerment Applicants and Social Equity Program Participants for a minimum of three years. Neither Apothca or Eskar, the two marijuana retailers licensed in Arlington, are Economic Empowerment Licensees or Social Equity Program Participants. The ARB acknowledges however that as a community that has allowed adult use marijuana uses, the Town and the Zoning Bylaw should reflect the current license types in a proactive manner.

 

Other amendments bring Section 8.3 in alignment with the Cannabis Control Commission regulations at 935 CMR 500 and 935 CMR 501.

Vote Language:

The Redevelopment Board voted (5-0) to recommend Action on Article 34. That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:

 

Amend SECTION 2:____________________________________________

 

Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailer: An entity licensed by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to deliver directly to consumers from a Marijuana Retailer or a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center and that does not provide a retail location accessible to the public.

 

Marijuana Establishment: A Marijuana Cultivator, Craft Marijuana Cooperative, Marijuana Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Retailer, Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailer, Independent Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Research Facility, or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business except not a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center, also known as a Registered Marijuana Dispensary or RMD.

 

Marijuana Microbusiness: A co-located Marijuana Establishment that can be either a Tier 1 Marijuana Cultivator or Product Manufacturer or both, pursuant to 935 CMR 500.00, in compliance with the operating procedures for each license, and if in receipt of a Delivery Endorsement issued by the Cannabis Control Commission, may deliver Marijuana or Marijuana Products produced at the licensed location directly to consumers in compliance with establish regulatory requirements for retail sale as it relates to delivery. A Microbusiness that is a Marijuana Product Manufacturer may purchase no more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana per year from other Marijuana Establishments, pursuant to 935 CMR 500.00.

 

Marijuana Production Facility: An establishment authorized to cultivate, manufacture, process or package marijuana products, in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations. A Marijuana Production Facility may be licensed to operate as a Marijuana Microbusiness, Marijuana Cultivator or Marijuana Product Manufacturer, or registered as Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (also known as a Registered Marijuana Dispensary or RMD), or a co-located medical and non-medical establishment, in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations.

 

Marijuana Retailer: An entity licensed to purchase and transport Marijuana Products from Marijuana Establishments and to sell or otherwise transfer this product to Marijuana Establishments and to consumers. Retailers are prohibited from off-site delivery of Marijuana Products to consumers; and from offering Marijuana Products for the purposes of on-site social consumption on the premises of a Marijuana Establishment. A Marijuana Retailer can deliver Marijuana or Marijuana Products to consumers in accordance with the regulations at 935 CMR 500.00. A Marijuana Retailer may not allow on-site social consumption by consumers on the premises of the Marijuana Establishment.

 

Marijuana Use: A Marijuana Production Facility (See “Marijuana Cultivator”, “Marijuana Product Manufacturer”, “Marijuana Microbusiness”, and “Marijuana Production Facility”), Marijuana Research and Testing Facility (See “Independent Testing Laboratory” and Marijuana Research Facility”), Marijuana Retailer, Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailer, or Medical Marijuana Treatment Center as defined in this Zoning Bylaw.

 

Medical Marijuana Treatment Center: An establishment registered with the Commonwealth pursuant to 105 CMR 725.100, An entity licensed under 935 CMR 501.101, also known as a “registered marijuana dispensary” (RMD), that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food edibles, marijuana-infused products, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), repackages, transfers, transports, sells, offers for sale, distributes, delivers, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to registered qualifying patients or their personal caregivers for medical use purposes in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations. Unless otherwise specified, Medical Marijuana Treatment Center refers to the site(s) of dispensing, cultivation, and preparation of cannabis or marijuana for medical use.

 

Amend SECTION 5.5.3.:________________________________________

 

 

Amend SECTION 5.6.3.:________________________________________

 

 

Amend SECTION 8.3:__________________________________________

 

8.3 Standards for Marijuana Uses

For all marijuana uses, the following standards apply:

 

A. General

(1) Marijuana Establishments and Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers shall be allowed only after the granting of an Environmental Design Review Special Permit by the Arlington Redevelopment Board, subject to the requirements of Section 3.4 and this Section.

(2) Marijuana Retailers, Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailers, and Marijuana Production Facilities, as defined in Section 2, may be established to provide Marijuana Products for medical use, non-medical use, or both, in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations.

(3) Marijuana Establishments and Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers shall be located only in a permanent building and not within any mobile facility, with the exception that Marijuana Microbusiness with a Delivery Endorsement and Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailers may conduct mobile deliveries in accordance with 935 CMR 500.000. All sales, cultivation, manufacturing, and other related activities shall be conducted within the building, except in cases where home deliveries are authorized to serve qualified medical marijuana patients pursuant to applicable state and local regulations and except that Marijuana Microbusiness with a Delivery Endorsement and Marijuana Delivery-Only Retailers may conduct sales in accordance with 935 CMR 500.000.

(4) Marijuana Production Facilities shall not be greater than 5,000 square feet in gross floor area, and shall be licensed as a Marijuana Microbusiness if Marijuana Products are cultivated or produced for non-medical use.

(5) A Marijuana Retailer or Marijuana Production Facility that has previously received an Environmental Design Review Special Permit from the Arlington Redevelopment Board for a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center shall be required to amend its previously issued Special Permit to authorize the conversion to or co-location of a Marijuana Establishment for the non-medical use of marijuana.

 

B. Location

(1) Pursuant to 935 CMR 500.110, Marijuana Establishments shall not be permitted within 500 feet of a pre-existing public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any of grades one through 12. This standard also applies to Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers not already permitted by the date of this bylaw.

(2) Marijuana Establishments and Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, not already permitted by the date of this bylaw, shall not be located within 300 feet of Town-owned playgrounds and recreational facilities and 200 feet of public libraries, unless a finding of the Arlington Redevelopment Board determines that the location, based on site-specific factors, or if the Applicant demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Arlington Redevelopment Board, that proximity to the aforementioned facilities will not be detrimental based upon criteria established in 3.3.3 and 3.3.4.

(3) A Marijuana Retailer shall not be permitted within 2,000 feet of another Marijuana Retailer; A Medical Marijuana Treatment Center shall not be permitted within 2,000 feet of another Medical Marijuana Treatment Center.

(4) The distances referred to in this section shall be measured as defined in 935 CMR 500.110(3)(a).

 

C. Cap on the number of Special Permits for Marijuana Retailers

(1) The Arlington Redevelopment Board shall not grant a special permit if doing so would result in the total number of Marijuana Retailer licenses to exceed a maximum of three.