North Andover Eyes Hold on Pot Shops

NORTH ANDOVER — The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday approved an article to the May 2017 Town Meeting Warrant that would have voters to decide on a moratorium on recreational marijuana, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

The warrant article, if passed, would place a temporary moratorium on recreational marijuana shops until June 30, 2018, the day before the state allows retail pot shops to open the newspaper reports.

The moratorium would ban the use of land for any recreational marijuana retailers and cultivators.

This would prohibit the proposed 1 million square foot marijuana growing facility at 1600 Osgood, the newspaper reports.

Michael Rosen, an attorney representing the owners of 1600 Osgood St., offered an amendment to the moratorium that would exclude the Medical Marijuana Overlay District in town, the newspaper reports.

The Medical Marijuana Overlay District is currently on a parcel of land on Holt Road near the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The owners of 1600 Osgood have submitted citizens' petitions for Town Meeting to expand the marijuana overlay district to include their property, the paper reports.

The owners are in favor of a moratorium against dispensaries and retail shops, as last night as it explicitly allows for cultivation facilities such as theirs, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

For more on this story read the Eagle-Tribune.