SOUTHBRIDGE – Members of the town council last week complained about blatant use of marijuana at parks, just prior to voting in favor of allowing town voters to decide whether recreational marijuana businesses should be allowed in town.Similar to town meetings throughout the region in recent months, Southbridge voters will be asked, at the June 13 townwide election, if the town should prohibit any and all types of recreational marijuana businesses.
Southbridge Councilor Kristen Auclair was the lone dissenter, but only as a matter of principle, as the statewide question was overwhelmingly passed by Southbridge voters in November.
Councilor Marc DiPietro said that as “a patriot,” he believes people should be able to do whatever they want in this country as long as they’re not hurting others. But he noted that he wanted the council to be part of a message that said no to the local ballot question, because of what he said were damaging effects of marijuana use.
During a separate portion of the meeting, the Rev. Esteban Carrasco Jr., the council’s chairman, talked at length about what he said were “misconceptions about this whole marijuana law.”
Also a Little League baseball coach, Rev. Carrasco complained that there are young men in town who openly smoke pot at Henry Street Park in front of children and families.
Because of the pot use, and rampant littering at the park, Rev. Carrasco called for increased foot patrols by the police. He suggested police should do more than just drive by the park. He suggested that the problems could spread to parks on Morris and West streets.
With such open marijuana use, Rev. Carrasco suggested “it’s tough to coach kids down there, to keep them occupied, distracted.”
Vice Chairman Denise Clemence added that she was walking at Westville Dam and encountered guys who were “smoking away.”
Given the new law, Mrs. Clemence noted, a subcommittee is working on bylaws about marijuana use in public, which is enforceable with fines. Proposed bylaws can become municipal regulations upon approval by a subcommittee, three readings by the council and then a favorable vote of the council.
credit:telegram.com