Norwood Approves Marijuana Public Consumption Bylaw, Will Reconsider Moratorium at Town Meeting

At Norwood's first day of the 2013 Special/Annual Town Meeting Monday the town voted to approve the implementation of a bylaw that would make smoking marijuana in public a finable offense. They also voted to reconsider the article pertaining to a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

Article 6 dealing with the public consumption of marijuana was approved by Town Meeting Members to allow Norwood Police to impose a $300 fine for anyone caught smoking marijuana in public.

According to Norwood Police Chief William Brooks the bylaw is similar to that of laws against publicly consuming alcohol.

“If a person really does have a debilitating disease they probably don’t need to smoke the marijuana on the Common or at a ball field or at one of the benches on Washington Street,” Brooks said.

“In 2008, when marijuana was decriminalized there was a provision right in the ballot question that said that cities and towns could pass bylaws prohibiting public consumption,” he said. “There wasn’t so much of an issue at the time but now in 2012 when the voters voted for medical marijuana it brings up the issue that somebody with a medical marijuana card could smoke marijuana in public and not only wouldn’t they not be arrested but we couldn’t even stop them from doing it. It would be completely lawful.”

The bylaw is different than the law passed in 2008 which decriminalized possession of up to an ounce marijuana. Many law enforcement officials say the fines issued for those caught possessing under and ounce of marijuana are not enforceable and therefore often do not get paid.

“The marijuana citations right now for mere possession, there’s really not much recourse for us if the person doesn’t pay it,” Brooks said. “With the public consumption however if the person does not pay that citation within 21 days we can go to court and take out a complaint because public consumption will be unlawful under the bylaw.”

Brooks said he does not think they will have to write too many citations but was in favor of the article passing because it will deter people from smoking pot in public places in Norwood.

Article 5, which would put in place a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries setting up in town was voted and approved Monday night.

However, it was then voted to be reconsidered after it was made known that some residents wanted to speak on the issue of the moratorium and were not able to.

“So Thursday night the first thing they’re going to do is reconsider the moratorium. I think a lot of it is to give the speakers a chance to be heard,” Brooks said.

The chief said he is in favor of the moratorium because it will allow the town time to adjust accordingly to the newly passed medical marijuana laws.

“The system for setting up these dispensaries is not in place. So a lot of cities and towns, and I agree with this, think it’s a good idea to wait another year and to make sure that we have all the answers before we set up a system that would allow a dispensary to open,” Brooks said.

“Specifically from a Norwood standpoint, since so many towns around us are going forward with the moratorium if the town doesn’t have one you almost set yourself up to attracting a dispensary. You want to be careful that you don’t do that,” he said.

The second day of Town Meeting will be held Thursday night in the auditorium of Norwood High School.