By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The Caribou City Council, on Monday evening, following a public hearing voted to adopt the proposed sixth draft of the city’s Ordinance to regulate the placement and permitting of Registered Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Facilities.
Following the public hearing during which time Kathleen Mazzuchelli addressed the panel on behalf of CADET— Community Alcohol/Drug Education Team, (who had also discussed concerns of this issue with Caribou Chief of Police Michael Gahagan) and Caribou resident Wilfred Martin also voiced his concerns and questions.
At the conclusion of the hearing the council members had the consideration of four options. These options included: adoption of the sixth draft ordinance (with or without amendment); rejection of the sixth draft ordinance; extension of the current six-month moratorium for up to an additional six months) which would have to be supported with a reason to extend, such as unaccounted for elements in the draft ordinance due to public opinion or other substantive elements; or do nothing and let the moratorium lapse on Nov. 12 with no further action to amend the current land use code or Zoning.
The adopted proposed ordinance regulates the placement and permitting of Registered Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Facilities as cited under state law. The ordinance establishes criteria for citing criteria, security systems, certificate of occupancy and permitting for State registered dispensaries and cultivation of medical marijuana.
Through Mazzuchelli, Chief Gahagan, stated, “Although Caribou’s ordinance regulates officially licensed dispensaries, the State law was crafted poorly as it pertains to caregivers and enforcement issues and has the potential to further enhance critical substance abuse issues that plaque us already — not just in our community but statewide. Municipal officials are urged to work closely with law enforcement to identify critical flaws in the law and encourage corrective action.”
Mazzuchelli informed the panel that although CADET members felt the city was well covered regarding the dispensary portion of the ordinance, they remain seriously concerned about other portions of the law which they feel are flawed and urged the council to identify these errors in the law.
Wilfred Martin voicing his concern stated, “Can’t we just make this thing go away? We don’t want this here, why are we going through this? Mayor Murchison informed Martin that it was a state law and the ordinance was to protect the city and its residents. Council member Mary Kate Barbosa reminded Martin that with the ordinance in place it protects the community from a possible dispensary being placed just anywhere.
Caribou City Manager Steve Buck also explained that it was the people’s referendum that passed allowing the liberalization of medical marijuana and the dispensaries, “We as a municipality do not have the right to deny this law, but we can set up an ordinance regulating where they can or cannot establish a dispensary. This is not going to go away and in my opinion, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
A complete article on other city council agenda items, as well as more on the Medical Marijuana Ordinance will appear in next week’s edition of the Aroostook Republican.
