Face-Off on Marijuana Zoning and Opt Out Policies

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about how the legalization of marijuana will be implemented here in Massachusetts.  Implementation of the ballot initiative, approved by 54 percent of Massachusetts voters last Fall has been postponed for at least six months while state lawmakers figure out the rules

33 of New Bedford's 36 precincts voted in favor of the marijuana initiative but without guidance from the state, the city cannot implement a plan either.  The Mitchell Administration says it will wait until after the rules have been established before proceeding.  Mayor Mitchell does say however, once pot is allowed to be sold commercially he'd prefer to see a cannabis retail zone established on Hathaway Road that would keep retail sales out of the neighborhoods and away from the downtown business district.