GreenLeaf Feb 2021

By Mike Crawford
Malden City Council Seeks to Pause
Cannabis Retail Licensing
City Councilor Craig Spadafora, an alcohol Retailer is not a fan of cannabis retail?
“I want them to live in Malden, I want them to
eat in Malden and I want them to drink in Malden.”
City Councilor Craig Spadafora, 10/10/19,
Malden City Council debate.
The Malden, Massachusetts City Council recently
passed a non-binding Resolve, “that the
city of Malden cannabis license commission
pause on soliciting additional applications for
retail marijuana licenses so that the city can solicit
voter feedback at the next municipal election
on limits on the number of establishments
allowed in the city” by a vote of 6-5.
State law passed after a 2016 legalization initiative
requires cities or towns that voted a majority
in support of the ballot question to license
a set number of cannabis licenses. In the city
of Malden, it would mean five or more adult use
cannabis applicants being licensed. The city is
only legally able to ban, to opt-out of cannabis
licensing by passing a new ballot initiative.
Currently, Malden has selected two adult-use
applicants to proceed with licensing.
The sponsor of the Resolve, City Councilor
Craig Spadafora doubted voters that elected
him, “A lot of voters didn’t realize there was a
number, they didn’t, whether you want to call
them uneducated voters that’s fine, they didn't
understand there was a number tied to the number
of alcohol licenses determined by the state by
population.”
City Councilor Amanda Linehan noted why she
was against the Resolve and seemed to take
issue with Spadafora on voter intent, “I voted in
favor of cannabis as a resident when it was on
the ballot and sincerely believe it sets a bad precedent
to assume that voters didn’t understand
how that ratio would be set or what it was that
they were voting on.”
Linehan also directly addressed those who would
be harmed by more delays, “I don't think it’s fair
to those that are midway through the process
right now to take this step.”
Spadafora seems intent in pushing for a ballot
initiative that would allow voters to limit the number
of retail cannabis licenses. This is interesting
considering he appears to retail liquor at his family’s
Malden restaurant business.
J14