Freetown Voters Reject Retail Marijuana Shops with Low Turnout

FREETOWN - Voters in Freetown have rejected retail marijuana shops.

A special Saturday election asked residents if they would rather adopt a bylaw that prohibits retail marijuana stores altogether, or keep current regulations to limit retail marijuana dispensary licenses to 20% of the liquor store licenses in Freetown. Keeping the current regulation would have permitted just one retail dispensary license.

Unofficial vote totals show only 414 of 5,855 registered voters (about 7%) cast votes in the election, with 219 voting to prohibit retail pot shops, and 195 voting to keep the regulations as they are.

Absentee ballots are still being tallied. An official vote count is expected Monday.