On November 8, 2016, the voters of the Commonwealth approved a law regulating the cultivation, processing, distribution, possession and use of marijuana for recreational purposes (new MGL c. 94G, Regulation of the Use and Distribution of Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed). The law, which allows certain personal use and possession of marijuana, took effect on December 15, 2016, and (as amended on December 30, 2016, Chapter 351 of the Acts of 2016, and thereafter on July 28, 2017, by Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017) requires a Cannabis Control Commission to issue regulations regarding the licensing of commercial activities by March 15, 2018, and to begin accepting applications for licenses on April 1, 2018.

Currently under the Zoning Bylaw, a nonmedical marijuana establishment (hereinafter, a "recreational marijuana establishment"), as defined in MGL c. 94G, § 1, is not specifically addressed. Regulations to be promulgated by the Cannabis Control Commission may provide guidance on certain aspects of local regulation of recreational marijuana establishments. The regulation of recreational marijuana raises novel legal, planning, and public safety issues, and the Town needs time to study and consider the regulation of recreational marijuana establishments and address such issues, as well as to address the potential impact of the state regulations on local zoning and to undertake a planning process to consider amending the Zoning Bylaw regarding regulation of recreational marijuana establishments. The Town intends to adopt a temporary moratorium on the use of land and structures in the Town for recreational marijuana establishments so as to allow sufficient time to address the effects of such structures and uses in the Town and to enact bylaws in a consistent manner.