CHICOPEE - Mayor Richard J. Kos has filed a proposed Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance for consideration at the June 5, 2018 City Council Meeting. This is the first step in the City creating regulations for adult use marijuana. Three (3) public hearings will be held with the Planning Board, Zoning and Ordinance Committees before final passage.

The Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance is split into three (3) groups based on license types being offered by the Commonwealth.

Group A: Business to Business – any entity that executes wholesale sales transactions between itself and a licensed adult-use marijuana establishment.

License Types: Marijuana Cultivator, Craft Marijuana Cooperative;

Group B: Business to Consumer – any entity that executes retail sales transactions involving adult-use marijuana or marijuana products between itself and the general public or non-business entities.

License Types: Marijuana Retailer, Microbusiness, Social Consumption Operator;

Group C: Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments Not Conducting Sales Operations – an entity that engages in no adult-use marijuana sales transactions of any kind.

License Types: Independent Testing and Standards Laboratory, Marijuana Research Facility, Marijuana Transporter.

These three groups are separate from one another and each has different zoning requirements. Group A and B have the most severe requirements as this involves transactions of marijuana product.

In order for an adult-use marijuana facility to open within Chicopee it must obtain a special permit from the City Council and all proposals must meet the requirements set forth within the ordinance.

The Ordinance provides for four (4) marijuana retailer licenses within the City. This is based upon the amount of liquor licenses in the City (1 marijuana retailer license per 5 liqueur licenses.)

It is important to note that this Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance is a stand-alone zoning ordinance, and is completely separate from the current Medical Marijuana Ordinance that is in place for the City.

“I thank City Planner Lee Pouliot, Assistant City Planner Jack Benjamin, GIS Coordinator Michelle Santerre, City Attorney Dan Garvey, and City Councilor James Tillotson for their efforts in the preparation of this draft ordinance.” Said Mayor Richard Kos.

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