Should Marijuana Dispensaries Be Blocked?

Massachusetts recently passed a law legalizing medical marijuana. And that means medical marijuana dispensaries will soon be popping up all over the Bay State.

But in North Andover, one article on the Town Meeting warrant seeks to block them, at least tremporarily.

Article 32 reads: "To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of North Andover Zoning Bylaw, by adding Section 8.12 Medical Marijuana Treatment Center in order to allow time to make the appropriate amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to allow the use of Medical Marijuana Treatment Center, or to take any other action relative thereto."

Basically, the article doesn't ban the dispensaries permanently. It establishes a moratorium on the building of any such facilities until July 1, 2014. The purpose of this is to allow the Zoning Board time to plan town regulations regarding where they can be built.

Both the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee have voted for favorable action on this.

What are your thoughts? Should the town block marijuana dispensories for a year to allow special planning? Or should the town treat them like any other business and allow them to be built in already zoned locations? Discuss in the comments below.