PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Legislature voted to push back the timeline for the opening of recreational marijuana shops.

 

On Wednesday in an informal session with just a few lawmakers present, the Legislature fast-tracked a bill to delay the implementation of recreational marijuana for six months. The move pushes the timeline back for marijuana shops to open from the anticipated Jan. 1, 2018 to July 2018 - and likely the Berkshires will have to wait even longer.

 

"The legislature has a responsibility to implement the will of the voters while also protecting public health and public safety. This short delay will allow the necessary time for the Legislature to work with stakeholders on improving the new law," said Senate President Stan Rosenberg in a release issued Wednesday. 

 

"Luckily, we are in a position where we can learn from the experiences of other states to implement the most responsible recreational marijuana law in the country."

 

Rosenberg says the delay does not affect the legalization of home use and growing, which went into effect on Dec. 15. But, it will give time for the state to create a Cannabis Control Commission, draft and approve further regulations, create a "seed-to-sale tracking system" and issue licenses for retail.

 

"Our goal has always been to make sure that the intent of the voters is carried out," said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo in a statement. "The delay will allow the committee process to work through the law’s complicated implications and provide a process by which we can strengthen, refine and improve it."

 

The 12-page ballot question was approved by voters in November. The law replicates what has been done in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington already. The bill passed by the legislature on Wednesday still needs Gov. Charlie Baker's signature and it includes language that asks the Department of Public Health to partner with a research group and conduct "a first of its kind statewide baseline study on marijuana use in the commonwealth."

 

The study is expected to take 18 months and focus on how legalization will impact health, public safety, and overall usage rates.

 

The Legislature also plans to establish a committee on marijuana, comprised of both branches of government to review the entire legislation. 

 

The move isn't terribly surprising as leadership has hinted in the past about delays. Locally, two state representative felt additional time wouldn't be needed since the state had already rolled out medical marijuana and other states have rolled out recreational.

 

"I think we already have most of that work done," state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, who was an opponent of the ballot question, said on Dec. 14, the day before home use was legalized. "This is not reinventing the wheel."

 

At the same time, state Rep. Paul Mark said, "I am not looking for any delays at this time. I think that a 2018 window gives the state government time to get clear rules and regulations in place for retail establishments, and I am hopeful that this process will be more streamlined and roll out more smoothly than medical marijuana has since it was approved by the voters."

 

The state hadn't had a great implementation of medical marijuana. In 2012, voters approved that and still there is not a dispensary within an hour drive of the Berkshires. It is likely that the Berkshires would already be one of the last areas to see a recreational shop and the delay pushes that back even further.