How ballot question could end up adding more pot licenses
Under the existing cannabis law, communities must allow a minimum number of marijuana retail stores. Communities can only ban marijuana stores through a municipal election.
The minimum number is set at "20 percent of the number of licenses issued within the city or town for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises," rounded up to the nearest whole number. For a community with 18 liquor licenses, that would mean four marijuana stores must be allowed.
In addition to creating the new beer and wine license for food stores, the Cumberland Farms ballot question would lift the cap on the number of licenses an operator could hold. If the question survives a legal challenge from the Mass. Package Stores Association, wins at the ballot, and food stores ultimately gain approval for new beer and wine licenses, many communities could end up with more marijuana stores.
