Residents continued to shout out concerns, ranging from the increased traffic on an intersection some already feel is dangerous and an impact on children in town.
“I moved here to raise our young son,” said Randy Johnson, of High Street. “You don’t have to drive around Pittsfield too long to see the impact, the carnage really, of drugs on our society.”
Johnson asked if the company would be offering any diversion programs to youth in town.
Employees would be checking IDs of medical marijuana holders and recreational customers to ensure they were over age 21 in a “sally port,” and enclosed entrance, before they entered the main retail establishment, McCarthy said.
Inside, there would be placards available for customers with information about state laws and responsible use, he said.
Products will leave the store in locked containers.
As far as going into schools and talking to children, state law prohibits that employees have any interaction with individuals under 21 regarding the business, according to McCarthy.
“It is the adults’ responsibility to keep it under lock,” McCarthy said loudly. “We cannot prevent the diversion if the adult doesn’t accept the responsibility.”
Scott Quinlan, of Tyringham Road, questions what a marijuana retailer would do to the image of the town.
“I’m protective about our image,” he said.
Quinlan expressed concerns that the establishment will be used by people “who may not have their own transportation” or a “population that’s medically complicated and might take a little extra care.”
“That sort of imagery of medical vehicles come and going … Are they going to see something that looks like a 24 hour drive-through?” Quinlan asked. “If we start to open the door, what comes next?”
Select Board member Michael Lavery suggested to the crowd that it is too late to be expressing concerns about the marijuana industry as a whole because the town had already voted down a temporary ban on establishments.
“We wouldn’t have been here tonight if we voted for a moratorium,” Lavery said, adding that their was also an opportunity to ban public consumption. “The town wouldn’t have it there either.”