Order: That in the interest of promoting a fair and transparent marijuana licensing process, free from political influence and the potential for state ethics violations, that the Code of the City of Malden be amended to change the Special Permit granting authority for Marijuana Establishments from the Malden City Council to the Malden Planning Board, including amending the following Sections: -Section 6.08.070.B. Definition of Special Permit, by deleting “as further amended by City Council Paper 283 of 2018.”; -Section 6.08.070.D.2.b, by deleting “City Council” where mentioned and replacing with “Planning Board”; -Section 12.12.010.A, first paragraph, first phrase, by striking "City Council" and replacing with "Planning Board", as follows: "Except for Marijuana Retailer, Marijuana Cultivator, Independent Marijuana Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Research Facility and Marijuana Transporter, where a special permit shall be required by the Planning Board in accordance with MCC 12.12.020;"; -Section 12.12.190, first paragraph, by striking "City Council" and replacing with "Planning Board" as follows: "A Marijuana Establishment, as defined by this Ordinance to expressly only include Marijuana Retailer, Marijuana Cultivator, Independent Marijuana Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Research Facility and Marijuana Transporter, may be allowed only in the Highway Business, Industrial 1 and Industrial 2 zoning districts or the Marijuana Establishment Overlay District, only by special permit granted by the Planning Board and only in conformance with the following controls and requirements:"; -Section 12.12.190.B, Section 12.12.190.G, Section 12.12.190.G.4, Section 12.12.190H, by deleting "City Council" where written and replacing with "Planning Board"; -Section 12.28.010.E, by deleting “City Council” where mentioned and replacing with “Planning Board”

Committee

City Council

Requested by

City Council

Introduced

June 2, 2022

On agenda

January 17, 2023

Passed

January 9, 2024