Uxbridge voters asked to amend pot bylaw

UXBRIDGE — Voters at the annual fall town meeting in October will be asked to amend the town’s marijuana bylaw to increase the number of marijuana facilities - excluding retailers and medical treatment centers - from three to 12.

The town meeting is scheduled to be held Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Valley Chapel auditorium, 14 Hunter Road.

By agreeing to amend the bylaw, the maximum number of marijuana cultivators, marijuana testing facilities, research facilities, marijuana product manufacturer or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business (exclusive of marijuana retailers or marijuana treatment centers) would be no more than 12 in total, while the maximum number of medical marijuana treatment centers would be no more than three.

If approved, the maximum number of marijuana retailers would be no more 20 per cent the total number of licenses which have been issued within town for the retail of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises for the preceding fiscal year, or three in total, whichever the greater.

Town officials are proposing changing the number of testing, research, manufacture and cultivation facilities from 3 to 12 because the town has had an increase of businesses requesting community host agreements beyond the allotted three.

To be licensed by the state, a marijuana establishment must execute a host community agreement with the municipality in which it intends to be located. A host community agreement allows municipalities to essentially set parameters on the operation of a marijuana business and establish an annual impact fee to the town to offset the risks of a marijuana business.

A yes vote on the article, according to the selectmen, would allow the town to determine a more accurate representation of the different types of facilities.

So far, the selectmen have voted to enter host community agreements with three recreational marijuana establishments, Xiphias Wellness, Gibby’s Garden and Caroline’s Cannabis, LLC, and with Blackstone Valley Naturals LLC, which is looking operate a cultivation and manufacturing, or processing facility, at 660 Douglas Street.

The board has also voted to enter a host community agreement with Baked Bean LLC for a marijuana processing and transportation establishment at 504 Quaker Highway.