Wayland Board of Health urges full ban on recreational marijuana businesses

WAYLAND -- June 25, 2018, Wayland Board of Health votes 5-0 to recommend banning recreational marijuana businesses. Health Director Julia and Town Planner Sarki told the Select Board on Monday that a working group will pursue both a ballot-question ban and a backup zoning bylaw creating an overlay district before the temporary moratorium expires Dec. 31. Roughly 70 residents attended a May forum that preceded the vote. Both measures require two-thirds town meeting approval, raising the prospect Wayland could end up with neither, with the special town meeting warrant closing around Aug. 30. Selectman Cherry said any reversal of the 2016 legalization vote required strong turnout: "Wayland as a community voted for this." The board also approved Sharon Burke and Bill Steinberg to the Economic Development Committee and Kelly Lapin and Carol Martin to three-year Finance Committee terms, and heard that Rep. Carmine Gentile secured $400,000 in a pending bond bill for a Wayland playground or field.