HODGDON, Maine — Hodgdon residents took a stand Thursday evening, sending a loud and clear message that they do not want retail marijuana businesses in their town.
Nearly 200 people attended a special town meeting at the Mill Pond Elementary School to vote on a town ordinance to prohibit retail marijuana establishments within the town. According to the town ordinance, retail establishments include any marijuana stores, cultivation sites, testing facilities and social clubs.
Voters overwhelmingly passed the ordinance, 176 in favor and three opposed. Following the announcement of the vote, those in the audience erupted with applause. There are 935 registered voters in the town.
“I am very pleased with the turnout here tonight,” Town Manager Jim Griffin said. “Any time you get this many people showing up, you get a better understanding for what people want.”
“It was great to see the support on this issue,” said Hodgdon resident Jason Little. “I feel this is an important issue for our community and it was great to see so many people here tonight.”
Griffin added he was not overly surprised that there were no comments or questions raised during the special town meeting.
“I think the ones who might have had a comment knew which way the vote was going to go before they came through the door,” Griffin said. “We looked at the November (2016) vote and our town said, ‘No,’ to legalizing marijuana. We figured if our people didn’t want it then, they probably would want an ordinance put in.”
In November 2016, Hodgdon voters overwhelmingly opposed the state referendum to legalize marijuana by a vote of 521 opposed (76 percent) to 163 in favor (24 percent).
Griffin said he felt Thursday’s decision was one of morality for many in the community.
