PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — During their April 4 meeting, Presque Isle City Councilors voted to hold a future public hearing that could possibly establish an ordinance to prohibit any marijuana social clubs from opening in the city.
About halfway through the one-hour meeting, City Manager Martin Puckett told councilors that while the state Legislature continues to discuss potential retail and individual marijuana regulations, there has been increased concern over the potential establishment of marijuana social clubs around the state. These clubs, explained Puckett, are similar to bars where alcohol is served but individuals smoke or consume edible marijuana instead.
“The planning board recommends that we pass an ordinance that prohibits these social clubs. This ordinance wouldn’t affect regulations for retail establishments or individuals,” Puckett said. “The board recommends having an ordinance for social clubs to prevent individuals from filling out an application to open that type of business.”
“If the state passed something related to social club regulations, would this ordinance still be legal?” Council Chair Emily Smith asked Puckett.
“Yes, what we need to do now is schedule a public hearing for the ordinance. As with all ordinances, this one would last four years,” Puckett said. “If the state Legislature wrote a law about social clubs, we could always revisit our ordinance after four years.”
Councilor Craig Green spoke in favor of a public hearing and expressed support for passing the social club ordinance.
“I feel that we don’t need a place where people could go and get stoned, and we should have a public hearing in place so that we could prevent such a thing from opening here in the city,” Green said.
The councilors voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing at a later date. The next regularly-scheduled City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at Presque Isle City Hall.
