CAMDEN — Following a two-hour public hearing about allowing marijuana retail stores in specific Camden zoning districts, the Select Board voted 4 to 1 March 21 to let the voters decide the outcome at June 2023 Town Meeting.
The agreement concluded much debate, and after many residents expressed their opinions. The Washington Street John French Meeting Room was full of citizens who took to the podium with statements, many of them opposing the idea of siting marijuana shops in Camden, especially in the proposed districts. Some advocated for the proposal and sending the decision to the voters.
In the end, the Select Board agreed that warrant language will be crafted, but voters will see two articles pertaining to the matter when they go to the polls June 13.
As of 2022, Camden voters decided to place all of its municipal business before the electorate on paper ballot, doing away with the traditional in-person, open-floor town meeting. Therefore, there will be no more public discussion about the articles after they appear in their final wording form before the Select Board in April.
At issue was Camden resident Mark Benjamin’s proposal to amend the town’s marijuana regulations in the districts to allow up to two adult use retail or medical caregiver storefronts in the Downtown Business District (B-1), the Transition Harbor Business District (B-TH) and the Transitional Business District (B-3).
See accompanying map for the districts.
Benjamin wrote the amendment…