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Community Corner

Pot-Smoking Ban Drafted for Edgartown

Medical marijuana will be illegal in public places where tobacco is allowed, under a proposed town meeting article in Edgartown; selectmen in Oak Bluffs as well as Edgartown are looking to put medical pot shops on hold.

Medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, but using it in public parts of Edgartown might soon be the prescription for a $300 fine.

Edgartown selectmen Tuesday approved draft language for two medical marijuana articles to be placed on the 2013 special town meeting warrant.

The first article stipulates that nobody may smoke, or in any other way ingest, marijuana or its active ingredient tetrahydrocanabinol while "in or upon" any

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  • street
  • sidewalk
  • public way
  • footway
  • passageway
  • stairs
  • bridge
  • park
  • playground
  • beach
  • recreation area
  • boat landing
  • public building
  • schoolhouse
  • school grounds
  • cemetery
  • parking lot
  • any area owned by or under the control of the Town
  • in or upon any bus or other passenger conveyance operated by a common carrier
  • in any place accessible to the public.

This proposed marijuana by-law carries a $300 civil fine for infractions.

The second Edgartown article proposes a zoning amendment imposing a moratorium on medical marijuana facilities until 2014.

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Oak Bluffs selectmen last week backed a similar temporary moratorium, according to the Vineyard Gazette.

Officials in both towns say they want to see what regulations state legislators decide to impose, before writing up new local laws on medical pot dispensaries.

Do you support the proposed bans on smoking and distribution of medical marijuana? Let us know in the comments or, if you'd rather keep your identity confidential, email Louisa

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