ACS Hull Adult Use

ACS HULL – ADULT USE

Thank You Hull! You Supported ACS and Hull Medical Patients!!
Residents of Hull filed a Citizen’s Petition to allow a Registered Marijuana Dispensary to add adult use retail sales in order to ensure that they are able to continue serving the needs of Hull medical patients. The proposal would also increase Hull’s tax base, prevent the exporting of tax revenue and jobs to surrounding communities, expand access to opioid alternatives, require several discretionary approvals by local boards and ensure a location within the existing Marijuana Overlay District.
The new Citizen’s Petition with 330 signatures was turned in to the Town Clerk and placed on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting held August 31, 2023. The Vote passed 283-60, sending a clear message to the Town that residents approve of ACS adding Adult Use Cannabis Sales. As of November 21, 2023 ACS is waiting for review of it’s HCA application submitted to the SelectBoard on November 10. The AG’s 90 day window for certification of the STM Vote is December 18 so we hope to be moving forward soon! Sign up for our newsletter to stay tuned for details and we are always around to answer questions.

Fiscal Impact Facts

Currently, under Massachusetts law:
- Medical use marijuana is not subject to taxation.
- Adult use (recreational) marijuana is subject to a 20% state tax.
- Of this 20% state tax, 3% is distributed back to the city or town.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reports that over $4 billion in sales have been generated since adult use retail stores opened in 2018.

On November 9, 2022 the legislature passed updates to regulations permitting local communities to collect an additional impact fee related to costs imposed by the operation of marijuana establishments. This fee could be up to 3% of gross revenues.

Based on municipal revenue generation from adult recreational dispensaries locally, it is likely ACS could contribute approximately $400-$800,000 revenue to the Town annually.

Read an important endorsement below and support ACS!

I support Hull Medical Patients

I support the Citizen’s Petition to allow a Registered Marijuana Dispensary to add adult use retail sales in order to ensure that they are able to continue serving the needs of Hull medical patients. This proposal would also increase Hull’s tax base, prevent the exporting of tax revenue and jobs to surrounding communities, expand access to opioid alternatives, require several discretionary approvals by local boards and ensure a location within the existing Marijuana Overly District.

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I understand and agree

* By signing this petition, I hereby grant permission for my name to be used in any promotional materials and advertising that may be prepared in support of this initiative.

Hull Adult Use FAQs

What was the result of the Special Town Meeting Vote in Hull August 31, 2023?

In Hull, at a Special Town Meeting on August 31, 2023, a Citizens Petition changing the zoning and general bylaws to allow Recreational Marijuana Sales passed by a resounding 283 to 60 vote!. Per Town Instructions, ACS filed a 127 page HCA application with the Select Board on November 10, 2023. The AG certified the vote on December 19, 2023 and we continue to request updates from the Town Manager and Select Board. Town Counsel was initially very involved in the process but the Town has since begun consulting with an attorney from KP Law. An update and discussion of AU Cannabis was scheduled to be on the SelectBoard Mtg Agenda January 31st, 2024.

What would this Citizen’s Petition do?

This proposal would allow an existing Registered Marijuana Dispensary in Hull to add adult use retail sales.

What would be the process for granting adult use retail sales to an applicant?

A license for adult use retail sales requires a new Host Community Agreement, a special permit and site plan review by the Planning Board, and a license from the Select Board. It also requires a determination that the applicant hasn’t negatively impacted the town in any way.

Why can’t we just limit local stores to Medical use?

There are several reasons that Medical dispensaries are no longer viable without retail sales. First, since marijuana is not FDA approved, Massachusetts health plans do not offer coverage for the medical use of marijuana. Second, because marijuana hasn’t been legalized at the federal level, veterans and others receiving benefits may be afraid of losing them. Third, medical patients need to register in a state database and pay a yearly certification that can be from $100- $200. And, fourth, Medical dispensaries can’t compete with other stores that offer both medical and retail sales because they can offer their products less expensively.

How did Hull vote on the statewide ballot initiative to approve marijuana for recreational use in 2016?

Hull approved this measure with a vote of 59.1% to 40.9%.

Didn’t the town later vote against retail marijuana businesses being located and operated in Hull in 2018?

Yes, but when proposing these local ballot questions to the town, the Select Board argued that we should be cautious about approving retail use until its impacts were better understood. In their letter to the citizens of Hull at the time, they wrote:

“The new and unique characteristics of these businesses will most likely bring new and unique challenges and impacts to Hull. It is therefore practical, if not prudent, to carefully consider and regulate the local aspects of these businesses until these challenges and impacts are better understood in our local setting (e.g., to avoid the ‘law of unintended consequences’).”

Did the town ever foresee revisiting this issue?

Yes, in fact, the excerpt below was also included in their letter to the citizens of
Hull.

“Time may show that these By-laws should be amended (to better tailor
them or offer greater flexibility) once these impacts are better understood. But we believe that after considering all of the information that has been presented in this discussion it is smarter and more responsible to go slow and then ramp up as necessary, than to have incomplete, inadequate or no regulation regarding these new businesses and have them adversely affect our Town without an
adequate remedy to address the impact (e.g., ‘un-ringing the bell’).”

How old do you have to be to purchase marijuana for retail use?

State law requires that individuals purchasing marijuana for retail use must be 21 years of age.

What are the benefits of allowing adult use retail sales in Hull?

It will expand access to opioid alternatives, increase Hull’s tax base, protect local jobs, create additional positions with a local hiring preference, and support local businesses in the community.

What if this Citizen’s Petition to allow adult use retail sales doesn’t pass?

Local businesses serving medical patients could be forced to close, thereby forcing patients to travel to other communities for their medicine. This will also result in Hull losing tax revenue and jobs in the process.