In Southwick, a select board committee has proposed the use of zoning as a way of helping regulate the marijuana business in town. With marijuana gaining favor among many people, it is easy to see why there is the need to have it regulated. With proper regulation, there will be no abuse of marijuana to the extent that people regret why they had it legalized in the first place.
In many states that have legalized marijuana, there has been an introduction of zoning to help with the regulation. Most of them are using zoning as the primary regulatory tool than the other methods such as distance restrictions. It is not surprising that it has a high success rate as it is favorable to both the marijuana retailers and the government too.
Zoning will be specific destinations for the marijuana producers and the marijuana processors. They will have to work based in a certain zone and cross over without a license. This on the overall should make tracking the production and sale of marijuana faster. The government will simply have to use the data gathered from the zones. The zone licenses will be awarded based on the population in the area. No need to have too many retailers in one place when it has a small population.
The use of zoning came later when other methods had been tried before. This included the use of density and distance restrictions. With the lack of experience and case studies on the methods, they have now been ditched for the use of zoning. It is probably because zoning has been around for years for land use policy. With the application of the same law to other states and more benefits, it is now likely to be implemented in Southwick.
Over the years, Southwick town has been subject to overlay districts as a way of dividing the town. Having an overlay district allows having a certain part of the town having specific use. Some of the overlays that exist right now include the adult entertainment overlay and wireless commercial overlay. We can now expect that there will be a third overlay district.
This third overlay district is expected to house the marijuana retailers. The location has not been finalized, but it is something the local government is considering to ensure easier control. If the zone is created, then each facility set up in the area will have to get a special permit process. Since it would be handling marijuana, there is the need to ensure every regulation and procedure is followed.
The voters of Southwick have twice voted for the legalization and growing of marijuana. This just goes on to show that they are ready for it. The chairman of the committee Doug Moglin claims that his committee is almost ready to roll out the zones. He believes that the bylaw to be presented would be appealing to the voters.
The committee is also talking about more on the laws other than the zoning issues. One of the important issues include the type of licenses to be offered. Some of the permit options that are likely to be included are growing only, growing and selling, medical growing and selling, retail sales only, and recreational sales. All we can do now is wait and hope for the best by laws in the end.
