Amherst Board Tackles Marijuana Regulation and Hemp Product Sales
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Meeting Type:
Licensing Board
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Meeting Date:
03/28/2024
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Recording Published:
03/29/2024
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Duration:
28 Minutes
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State:
Massachusetts
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County:
Hampshire County
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Towns:
Amherst
- Meeting Overview:
The Amherst Board of Licensing recently convened to address a variety of issues, with updates on marijuana regulation and the sale of hemp-derived products taking center stage. The meeting covered routine license approvals and renewals, as well as discussions about potential changes to local bylaws in response to state regulations. The board engaged in a debate regarding the involvement of establishments in reporting the sale of hemp-derived products and considered inviting business owners to an upcoming meeting to clarify any concerns.
Kicking off the meeting with a unanimous approval, the board granted a farmer winery license to Lori Perkins, allowing the continued sale of wine at the Farmers Market. This was followed by a swift renewal of the common victualer license for Oyster Bar LLC, which was confirmed as a standard procedure with no deviations from previous terms.
The session then progressed to the approval of special short-term license applications for two notable local entities, the Amherst Survival Center and the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. The applicants detailed their respective events and responded to inquiries from the board. The decisions were made with one abstention for each application.
As the meeting continued, a seasonal liquor license renewal for the Cherry Hill Golf Course was confirmed as routine and was approved without any debate.
The discussion then shifted to a more complex topic: updates on marijuana regulation. This included a review of potential adjustments to zoning bylaws necessitated by Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) regulations. The board carefully considered draft letters intended for off-premises license holders and legislators regarding the handling of hemp-derived products. This sparked a debate about whether or not establishments should be required to report the sale of these products. The board reflected on the merits of inviting business owners to a subsequent meeting to address any queries or unease regarding the products and the proposed reporting.
The issue of wage law violations by a local business owner surfaced during the meeting. This led to discussions about a potential liquor license application supplement, though the specifics of this supplement were not detailed in the summaries.
The meeting also addressed logistical matters such as setting regular meeting times. Some board members noted potential scheduling conflicts, but consensus was reached to continue with the current arrangement of convening on Thursdays at 5:30 PM.
In preparation for future sessions, the board reviewed upcoming agendas, which included potential discussions with business owners and updates on various licensing applications.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to adjourn, wrapping up a session that, while devoid of significant conflict, dealt with forward-looking regulatory issues that could have meaningful implications for the local economy and community standards.
Paul Brockelman
Licensing Board Officials:
Marian Walker, Gaston de los Reyes, Hallie Hughes, Dillon Maxfield, Doug Slaughter, Steven McCarthy (Licensing Coordinator)
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Meeting Type:
Licensing Board
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Meeting Date:
03/28/2024
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Recording Published:
03/29/2024
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Duration:
28 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
Massachusetts
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County:
Hampshire County
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Towns:
Amherst
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