Marijuana Documents & Update
In November 2012, Massachusetts voters approved legal use of marijuana for medical purposes.
In May 2014, the Annual Town Meeting approved allowing, by special permit, all medical marijuana facilities (cultivation, processing and manufacturing, retail) on land zoned Industrial. Annual Town Meeting Warrant for May 12, 2014 (section containing zoning amendment). Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of May 12, 2014.
In November 2016, Massachusetts voters approved legal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.
In May 2017, the Annual Town Meeting approved allowing, by special permit, all recreational marijuana facilities (cultivation, processing and manufacturing, retail) on land zoned Industrial. In addition, the Town Meeting approved a 2% local sales tax on retail sales of marijuana products for recreational use. Annual Town Meeting Warrant for May 8, 2017. Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of May 8, 2017. YouTube video (part 1) (part 2) of the Town Meeting of May 8, 2017.
In May 2018, the Annual Town Meeting voted against allowing recreational marijuana facilities (cultivation, processing and manufacturing, retail) on land zoned Business. It also voted to change the local sales tax from 2% to 3%. Annual Town Meeting Warrant for May 14, 2018. YouTube video (part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) of the Town Meeting of May 14, 2018. You can find the discussion and vote on the zoning article at about minute 47:30 in part 5.
As a result of these votes, the Town of Halifax allows all facilities (cultivation, processing and manufacturing, retail) for both medical and recreational marijuana on land zoned "Industrial" by special permit. The Town's zoning map shows those areas that are zoned Industrial.
Interested applicants will need to apply for a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals (contact the Zoning Board of Appeals for the application) and site plan approval from the Planning Board (download the review procedure, the check list, and application).
Zoning Update - October 2019
Two articles were presented to the Special Town Meting on October 21, 2019:
- Allowing recreational marijuana facilities (cultivation, processing, sales) on land commercially zoned via a special permit;
- Prohibiting recreational marijuana facilities (cultivation, processing, sales) within 300 feet of any land zoned agricultural/residential, the measurement to be based on the distance from property line to property line;
The Town Meeting voted to "pass over" action on both of these articles. Future Town Meetings may reconsider these proposals if the proposers gather the necessary signatures to pass them on the warrant for a future town meeting.
Zoning Update - September 2020
As part of the 2020 Annual Town Meeting, the Town voted to allow recreational marijuana facilities, including but not limited to cultivation, processing, manufacturing, and sales on land commercially zoned via a special permit. These changes await approval from the Massachusetts Attorney General.
Applications by Vendors
Four Daughers Cultivation Application (application was withdrawn)
Bud's Goods
Bud's Goods and Provisions, a recreational cultivation company, met with the Halifax Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 to discuss the possibility of an outdoor cultivation facility on the same parcel where the Four Daughters facility was to be located off River Street. The video of the conversation is available (starts at about minute 31). Bud's Goods and Provisions met again with the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 8:30pm. (video) The Halifax Board of Selectmen hosted a community forum/public hearing for Bud's Goods and Provisions proposal to build an outdoor cultivation facility on River Street on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00pm in the Great Hall in the Halifax Town Hall (video). The forum will included a presentation and an opportunity for residents and other interested parties to ask questions, make suggestions, and voice their views on the proposed facility. As a result of these meetings and the forum, the Board of Selectmen signed a Host Community Agreement with Bud's Goods.
Bud's Goods has an application before the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for a provisional license to cultivate and process marijuana. The application was approved for a provisional license on August 20, 2020.
The Halifax Planning Board meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 6:30pm in the Great Hall of the Halifax Town Hall included a brief informal discussion with Sarah Stearns of the engineering firm Beals + Thomas on behalf of the proposed marijuana cultivation and processing facility off of River Street to be operated by Bud's Goods.
Beals + Thomas submitted the following documents as part of the discussion:
The Halifax Board of Selectmen has scheduled a public forum on Tuesday, August 31 at 7:00pm via Zoom, on the Host Community Agreement (HCA) for Green Earth Cannabis, a retail marijuana facility with a proposed location at 657 Monponsett Street. The Board had previously voted against the HCA and then rescinded its vote earlier this month. Green Earth Cannabis will present additional information about its proposed retail marijuana facility and all other interested parties will be given an opportunity to speak on this matter. Zoom link - http://www.halifax-ma.org/home/events/40951
The proposed HCA can be found at http://www.halifax-ma.org/board-selectmen/pages/marijuana-documents-update - For more information, please contact the Selectmen's Office at 781-294-1316.
Home Cultivation
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has issued Guidance on Home Cultivation for Adult Use. Permits for buildings, wiring, plumbing, etc. are still required and zoning laws concerning setbacks and other restrictions still apply.
Quotas
The Town of Halifax has not established any quotas for medical or recreational marijuana facilities including cultivation, processing, and sales. No limits on any type of establishments. The Town allows multiple establishments at the same location.
Links