PARIS — Following a failed attempt two years ago, voters Tuesday passed a revised ordinance that will allow for the sale and cultivation of marijuana.
The tally was 1,280 to 703, with 65% of voters supporting it.
Officials made several changes to the original ordinance that narrowly failed to pass in October 2020 by a vote of 18-22 at a special town meeting.
The new ordinance deals with medical marijuana recreational-use facilities, while the previous one in 2020 only covered recreational retail businesses. Instead of three recreational-use shops, the new ordinance allows two recreational-use stores and three medical marijuana shops. The allowable space for shops was increased from 1,200 square feet to 1,400.
There is also a limit of three marijuana cultivation facilities, with a maximum plant canopy of 2,000 square feet for mature plants and 1,000 for nursery cultivation. Only nontoxic methods may be used in manufacturing and processing.
According to state rules, facilities must be 1,000 feet away from schools and 500 feet from licensed day care centers. Marijuana businesses cannot be within 1,000 feet of one another.
Other restrictions include being 500 feet from churches, parks and recreational areas, such as Moore Park.
License and operational fees will be determined by the Board of Selectmen later.
Following the 2020 defeat, a group of residents, town officials, business owners and stakeholders met to address residents’ concerns and make changes to the ordinance. While some of the restrictions were loosened, they were not eliminated as some had wanted. Select Board Chairman Christopher Summers said it was best to proceed cautiously rather then simply throw the doors open.
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