Bourne cannabis retail stores approved Monday. It took five town-wide votes since 2018.

Bourne voters of all ages queued in a long line outside on a chilly Monday night to get into the Bourne High School auditorium for a special town meeting.

They were intent on having their say — for the fifth time — on whether the town should allow the legal sale of recreational marijuana.

This time proponents of marijuana retail stores won out by a vote of 453 to 359 to repeal three previous bans in the past five years. The town clerk’s office reported 855 registered voters at the meeting.

The debate between the pros and cons of the article didn’t begin until 8 p.m., after a delayed start and several town finance articles were disposed of. Moderator Amy B. Kullar, who had a challenging night keeping order, asked people to move to the center to allow all voters inside the auditorium. The passionate arguments were cut short after only 20 minutes by a voter’s motion to call the question to force a vote on the main article. Most voters agreed, 697-91, and the main article proceeded to a vote.

The most confusion came when former Planning Board member Steve Strojny of Monument Beach, who sponsored and voted for the repeal, called for a reconsideration vote. That procedure prompted explanations by Select Board Chair Mary Jane Mastrangelo, who said a yes vote to reconsider would allow another vote on the same issue within an hour. A no vote would let the original vote stand and couldn’t be challenged further. The vote not to reconsider prevailed.

Special zoning district will limit where cannabis shops can open

The approval of the main article was followed by one to establish a detailed special Marijuana Overlay District developed by the Planning Board at several hearings over the summer. Planning Board Chair Daniel Doucette explained that the district would limit a total of three stores to commercial areas of town along MacArthur Boulevard, areas in Sagamore and around Belmont Circle. Shops in Sagamore and Belmont Circle will require special zoning permits under the bylaw.

Several people spoke in favor of the district, saying it would control where the shops could go. Strojny said it would “protect the town” or the stores “could go anywhere in town where there is retail.” Cataumet resident George Seaver, who had spoken earlier against the repeal, argued that the overlay district boundaries would come close to schools and the plan should have addressed a state-required 500-foot buffer zone. The buffer zone to schools is included in the district article.

The overlay district article passed, 546 to 136, which exceeded the required two-thirds majority.

Failed effort to prohibit recreational marijuana shops through zoning

A final attempt to prohibit all non-medical marijuana establishments through a zoning bylaw in a private petition by Doug Oesterheld was defeated 361-231. A two-thirds majority was needed because it involved zoning. Mastrangelo said passage would have reversed the repeal and prohibit any land use for marijuana sales except for medical marijuana.

The select board and finance committee earlier recommended approval of the marijuana sales article. The finance committee vote was 4-3 with one abstention and the select board vote was 2-1 with two abstentions.

Both boards also recommended approval of the overlay district based on the vote to allow sales.

“We’re trying to keep them (the stores) away from residential districts,” Mastrangelo said.

During the earlier brief debate on the main sales article, Lori Hough, who owns a cannabis store in Carver and initiated the private petition, said residents in Bourne should have the same legal rights.

“Why should they go to another town?” she asked. She urged a “yes” vote.

Strojny, speaking as a parent, gave the first strong argument in favor of the marijuana shops as a way to protect children.

“A black market for pot exists in Bourne,” he said, “We need to regulate the products. The best way to eliminate the black market is to repeal the ban.”

The minimum legal age to buy marijuana under the state law is 21.

Proponent says marijuana sales would bolster Bourne tax revenue

Strojny also said marijuana sales would bolster the tax revenue and improve the town’s bond rating. Cannabis revenue to the town would total $30,000 on each $1 million worth of retail sales, Mastrangelo said at an Oct. 10 meeting.

A man who identified himself as a doctor got a laugh when he said that marijuana use would reduce sperm count by 25 percent and could risk injury when used recreationally for five years. He also said children can get sick and pets can die from consumption of marijuana.

A woman, who was against the marijuana sales, said its use had no physical effects. She said other options for residents to obtain marijuana would be to buy in another town, grow it at home or order it online.

Another man in favor of the sales said, "Kids can get marijuana. It seems we’re only denying the town revenue.” Other residents argued that having the cannabis stores diminishes the “Cape Cod charm” of the town.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne voters OK sale of recreational marijuana in town on fifth try