Topsham — Topsham voters are OK with allowing medical marijuana retail in town, but aren’t sold when it comes to recreational sales.
Local voters faced a trio of nonbinding marijuana referendums to gauge their feelings on how the town should handle marijuana rules and what should and shouldn’t be allowed.
Voters showed support for medical marijuana retail with 60 percent voting yes, 3,078 to 2,060. The vote was much tighter on the question of recreational marijuana, with 2,631 against it and 2,485 for.
A third referendum question asking if residents wanted to allow commercial growing of marijuana in town received narrow support, 2,623 votes to 2,485.
The town isn’t required to ban or allow certain uses based on Tuesday’s results, but town officials hoped to get a feel for how residents felt before moving forward with any ordinances. Town Manager Rich Roedner said last month that depending on the level of support, there could be an official vote on new marijuana ordinances at a May town meeting.
“We’d start working on an ordinance as soon as we can,” said Roedner.
Topsham currently has a moratorium on medical marijuana retail, but has an advisory group ready to go if rules and regulations need to be developed. The group, including caregivers, medical marijuana business owners, town planners and a health professional, formed in June.
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