The state Cannabis Control Commission returned to Barnstable on Bob Marley’s birthday to hear what residents have to say about regulating recreational marijuana.
About 100 people attended the Feb. 6 public session at Barnstable Town Hall, where proponents who spoke focused on craft cultivation and retail sales. Those who spoke in opposition, who were outnumbered roughly two to one, urged the commission to ban retail pot sales altogether, saying it's illegal under federal law, with social costs that outweigh any potential tax benefits.
After three months of statewide listening tours, the commission has drafted a 100-page report on regulating the recreational marijuana industry that voters legalized in 2016. Between now and the Feb. 15 public comment deadline, commissioners are scheduled to hear testimony in about 10 more communities, including Dartmouth, Worcester, West Tisbury, and Boston.
The commission’s final vote on the proposed regulations is expected March 15. April 1 marks the opening of license applications; June, the awarding of licenses; and retail sales are scheduled to start July 1. Towns have the option of authorizing a 3 percent local sales tax.
“No applause, no heckling,” Commissioner Kay Doyle, former head of the state's medical marijuana program, advised the audience at the start of the one-hour session.
Doyle and Shawn Collins, the commission’s executive director and former Massachusetts assistant treasurer, did not answer any questions; rather, they listened to public comments limited to five minutes per person.
Richard Elrick, a former three-term Barnstable town councilor who noted that he's a grandparent, said he is frustrated because the proposed rules for regulating marijuana are “far more strict” than those governing alcohol.
"I think you err by being overly strict," Elrick said. “Cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol. What’s OK for package stores should be OK for cannabis retail as well.”
The whole point of regulating recreational marijuana is to eliminate the black market, Elrick said. “That's the key. We don't want to promote a business model with built-in failure.”
Elrick also questioned some of the regulations' proposed language on maintaining a buffer zone "where children congregate;" he said he doesn’t want to see the commission “zone out" legal businesses.
At the same time, Elrick said, the draft contains “a good section on water conservation" that makes sense given the Cape's water issues.
Finally, Elrick told the commissioners: “You ought to have local establishments that permit public consumption” and “you want home delivery to be maximized.”
"Stay strong,” he encouraged the commissioners. “I am very concerned about legal intervention after the fact. You’re doing your job in a very good way, and I thank you for that."
Spencer Knowles of Sandwich asked, “Where does Barnstable stand in all this?” on behalf of his organization, CannabisCapeCod.org. He referenced a Feb. 2 newspaper article in which many Cape towns -- but not Barnstable -- spelled out their positions.
Calling on-premise consumption "the dirty word," Knowles encouraged the commission to take "a slow and thoughtful approach."
"Let everyone digest this industry," Knowles said. "See how things are going before we roll out this portion."
Knowles cautioned that a delivery-only retail component would take away local revenue from local pot growers and suppliers.
"I just have to say one word: Amazon," Knowles said. "Cape Cod traffic is terrible. These host towns need to make sure they are in control."
Cotuit's Ellen Taylor Brown, a member of Barnstable High School's 2007 graduating class, addressed the meeting. She asked the commissioners why the draft regulations don't earmark any profits from the sale of recreational pot for education in the public schools.
Doing so, she said, would "would help change the stigma of marijuana, which is what this is all about. It's about giving back to the state of Massachusetts."
Mashpee resident Asia Atwood complimented the commission for its work. She said she does not agree with efforts to scrap the draft regulations.
"It was obvious to me that this was a community effort," Atwood said. "As with all regulations, there is room for improvement. We need to make sure that all products are safe."
However, Christine Grealey of Yarmouth said she thinks the social expenses far exceed the tax income that recreational sales would bring to the state.
The Cape has "a major and serious problem already" with alcohol and drugs, Grealey said. "I am distressed for our youth and the future of our society."
Tom Sullivan of West Yarmouth also spoke against the draft regulations. "You're putting in regulations that are illegal. It's as simple as that," he said, explaining that federal laws against marijuana use supersede any state guidelines. He added that he himself is a victim of illegal marijuana use, having experienced a head-on car collision at the hands of "a guy smoking a joint."
The commission is accepting comments via email at CannabisCommission@state.ma.us until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.