Municipalities in Western Massachusetts are hitting the pause button on medical and recreational marijuana stores.
At a special town meeting Monday, 78 registered voters unanimously approved a moratorium on medical and recreational marijuana businesses in West Stockbridge until the end of 2018.
Nearby Egremont and Lee have also approved marijuana moratoriums. North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright offered a similar proposal at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“No way am I asking for ban,” Alcombright says. “This was passed in North Adams, I think 62-38. I think what the community wants to look at here is where should it be located. And at the end of the day, nothing may change.”
Retail pot was legalized via a statewide ballot question in 2016. In July of this year, Governor Charlie Baker signed a law allowing communities to opt out of recreational pot sales.