[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Springfield 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-19. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this article is to ensure the safe possession and use of marijuana by persons 21 years of age and over within the City of Springfield.
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall be applicable:
MARIJUANA
All parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis not excepted below and whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; and resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin including tetrahydrocannabinol as defined in MGL c. 94C, § 1; provided, however, that "marijuana" shall not include:
A. 
The mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil, or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the mature stalks, fiber, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant or the sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination;
B. 
Hemp; or
C. 
The weight of any other ingredient combined with marijuana to prepare topical or oral administrations, food, drink or other products.
MARIJUANA PRODUCTS
Products that have been manufactured and contain marijuana or an extract from marijuana, including concentrated forms of marijuana and products composed of marijuana and other ingredients that are intended for use or consumption, including edible products, beverages, topical products, ointments, oils and tinctures.
OPEN CONTAINER
The package containing marijuana or marijuana products has its seal broken or from which the contents have been partially removed or consumed.
PASSENGER AREA
The area designed to seat the driver and passengers while the motor vehicle is in operation and any area that is readily accessible to the driver or passenger while in a seated position. "Passenger area" shall not include a motor vehicle's trunk, locked glove compartment or the living quarters of a house coach or house trailer, or if a motor vehicle is not equipped with a trunk, the area behind the last upright seat or an area not normally occupied by the driver or passenger.
A. 
No person shall sell marijuana or permit marijuana, as defined therein, to be sold to a person under the minimum legal sales age of 21; or give marijuana products, as defined herein, to a person under the minimum legal sales age of 21.
B. 
Each person selling or distributing marijuana products, as defined herein, shall verify the age of the purchaser by means of valid government-issued photographic identification containing the bearer's date of birth.
C. 
All retail sales of marijuana products shall be face-to-face between the seller and the buyer and occur at the permitted location unless and until delivery of adult-use marijuana products is authorized and licensed under state regulation and then, in strict compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.
A. 
No person shall cultivate or process marijuana plants if the plants are visible from a public place without the use of binoculars or optical aids. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine in an amount of $300 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
B. 
No person shall cultivate or process marijuana plants outside an area that is equipped with a lock or other security device. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine in an amount of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
C. 
No person shall possess more than one ounce of marijuana or marijuana products within the person's place of residence unless the marijuana and marijuana products are secured by a lock. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine in an amount of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
D. 
A person that possesses more than one ounce of marijuana or marijuana products but less than two ounces of marijuana or marijuana products within the person's place of residence is subject to a fine of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana in excess of the allowable limits.
E. 
A person that cultivates more than six but not more than 12 marijuana plants within the person's place of residence is subject to a fine of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana in excess of the allowable limits.
F. 
No person shall, upon any way or in any public place which the public has right of access, possess an open container or marijuana or marijuana products in the passenger area of any motor vehicle. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine in an amount of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
G. 
No person shall consume marijuana in a public place or smoke marijuana where smoking tobacco is prohibited. The penalty for violation of this section shall be $100.
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall be applicable:
CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION
Massachusetts agency with authority to implement the state marijuana laws including but not limited to Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017, MGL c. 94G, 935 CMR 500.00. The Commission has the authority to license and regulate adult use marijuana establishments.
MARIJUANA CULTIVATOR
An entity licensed to cultivate, process and package marijuana and to deliver and transfer marijuana to other marijuana establishments, but not to consumers.
MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT
A marijuana cultivator, independent testing laboratory, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business as defined in 935 CMR 500.00.
MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT AGENT
Employee, volunteer or agent of a marijuana establishment who provides on-site services to a marijuana establishment related to the cultivation, harvesting, preparation, packaging, storage, testing or dispensing of marijuana.
MARIJUANA PRODUCT MANUFACTURER
An entity licensed to obtain, manufacture, process and package marijuana and marijuana products and to deliver marijuana and marijuana products to other marijuana establishments, but not to consumers.
MARIJUANA RETAILER
An entity licensed to purchase and deliver marijuana and marijuana products from marijuana establishments and to deliver, sell or otherwise transfer marijuana and marijuana products to marijuana establishments and consumers.
MARIJUANA TESTING FACILITY
An entity licensed to test marijuana and marijuana products, including certification for potency and the presence of contaminants.
MARIJUANA TRANSPORTER
An entity licensed to purchase, obtain, and possess marijuana and marijuana products solely for the purpose of transporting, temporary storage, sale and distribution to marijuana establishments only.
In addition to the requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission in 935 CMR 500.00, a marijuana establishment shall obtain the following:
A. 
Community outreach meeting. Each marijuana establishment must hold a community outreach meeting within the neighborhood of the proposed site, when practicable. If no viable site is available, the community outreach meeting will be held at Springfield City Hall on 36 Court Street in Springfield, MA.
B. 
Host community agreement. Each marijuana establishment shall execute a host community agreement with the City of Springfield. An application form must be filled out expressing the desire to enter into a host community agreement. After approval by the Mayor's Office host community agreements must be approved by the City Council.
(1) 
Each host community agreement application shall be reviewed by an advisory committee consisting of the following nine members:
(a) 
The Mayor or his/her designee(s);
(b) 
The Health Commissioner or his/her designee;
(c) 
The City Solicitor or his/her designee;
(d) 
The Police Commissioner or his/her designee;
(e) 
The Code Enforcement Commissioner or his/her designee;
(f) 
The Director of the Department of Public Works or his/her designee;
(g) 
The Director of the Planning Department or his/her designee;
(h) 
The Chief Administrative and Finance Officer or his/her designee; and
(i) 
The Fire Commissioner or his/her designee.
(2) 
An application for a host community agreement shall be submitted to the Office of Planning and Economic Development on forms furnished by it that shall set forth the name of the applicant, contact information for the applicant, the name of the business entity operating the marijuana establishment, the marijuana establishment address, proof in the form of an executed lease or deed of the right to use the premises, the names and addresses of designated representatives such as shareholders, partners, managers and members, and other such information as the City may require.
(3) 
Applications for a host community agreement will not be reviewed until the application is complete. Complete host community agreement applications will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt.
(4) 
No host community agreement will be reviewed until a community outreach meeting has been held by the applicant.
(5) 
A completed criminal offender record information acknowledgement form shall be submitted with the host community agreement application for every manager and employee of the establishment.
C. 
Special permit application. A Tier 3 special permit shall be required for operation of a marijuana establishment. The approval of a special permit for any marijuana establishment is based on the discretion of the City Council.
D. 
Building permit. No marijuana establishment shall be issued a building permit from the Department of Inspectional Services prior to obtaining all required permits and licenses, including, but not limited to, a Tier 3 special permit from the Springfield City Council and a provisional license from the Cannabis Control Commission.
Each marijuana establishment and marijuana agent shall obtain all applicable operating permits from the Department of Health and Human Services, including but not limited to:
A. 
Marijuana operating permit.
(1) 
No person shall sell, cultivate, deliver or otherwise commercially distribute marijuana products, as defined herein, within the City of Springfield without first obtaining a marijuana operating permit issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services. Only owners of establishments with a permanent, nonmobile location in Springfield are eligible to apply for an operating permit at the specified location.
(2) 
A marijuana delivery-only establishment, if authorized and licensed under state regulation, shall not be required to have a permanent, nonmobile location, but shall have an in-state permanent business office address and contact information available. Upon request, the establishment must share information about the current location and destination of its employees with the Department of Health and Human Services.
(3) 
No person shall gift marijuana or marijuana products to a consumer contingent upon the sale of any other product.
(4) 
As part of the marijuana operating permit application process, the applicant will be provided with the Department of Health and Human Services regulation and any related City ordinance(s). Each applicant is required to sign a statement declaring that the applicant has read said regulation and corresponding ordinance(s) and that the applicant is responsible for instructing all employees who will be responsible for marijuana sales on federal, state and local laws regarding the sale of marijuana and this regulation.
(5) 
Each applicant who sells, cultivates, delivers or otherwise distributes marijuana is required to provide proof of a current license issued by the Cannabis Control Commission before a marijuana operating permit can be issued or renewed. Each applicant is required to provide the names and phone numbers of all staff of the establishment. This information shall be updated and provided upon annual renewal of the permit.
(6) 
A separate marijuana operating permit, displayed conspicuously, is required for each marijuana establishment. The fee for a marijuana operating permit shall be $2,000 annually.
(7) 
A marijuana operating permit is nontransferable. A new owner of a marijuana establishment must apply for a new permit.
(8) 
Issuance of a marijuana operating permit shall be conditioned on an applicant's consent to unannounced, periodic inspection of his/her marijuana establishment, including any business conducted off site, to ensure compliance with this regulation.
(9) 
A marijuana operating permit will not be renewed if the permit holder has failed to pay all fines issued and the time to appeal the fines has expired and/or the permit holder has not satisfied any outstanding permit suspensions.
(10) 
A marijuana operating permit may be subject to nonrenewal if the establishment has sold a marijuana product to a person under the minimum legal sales age two times within the previous permit year and the time to appeal has expired. The permit holder may request a hearing pursuant to this regulation prior to nonrenewal.
(11) 
No person under the minimum legal sales age shall be permitted to enter an establishment with a marijuana operating permit except those individuals in possession of a registration card demonstrating that the individual is a registered qualifying patient with the Medical Use of Marijuana Program if the establishment is co-located with a medical marijuana treatment center.
(12) 
A storefront marijuana retailer shall sell primarily marijuana and marijuana accessories. The sale of other products or offer of other services must be merely incidental.
(13) 
A storefront marijuana retailer is prohibited from applying for or otherwise holding a tobacco sales permit. A storefront marijuana retailer is also prohibited from holding a liquor license or selling or distributing any alcoholic beverage in any form.
(14) 
All marijuana establishments shall submit the final security plan to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Springfield Police Department prior to operation.
(15) 
All marijuana operating permits expire annually from the date of first issuance.
B. 
Any marijuana establishment who violates this section shall be subject to a fine in the amount of $1,000.
C. 
Violations; suspension and revocation of permit.
(1) 
In the case of a first violation, the permit holder in charge of the area permitted for marijuana sales not in compliance with the provisions of this regulation shall receive a fine of $1,000 per violation. The Springfield Department of Health and Human Services shall give the permit holder notification of the regulation and educational information on preventing the sale of marijuana to minors.
(2) 
In the case of two violations within a twelve-month period, the permit holder in charge of the area permitted for marijuana sales not in compliance with Subsection A of this regulation shall receive a fine of $1,000.
(3) 
In case of three violations within a twelve-month period, the permit holder in charge of the area permitted for marijuana sales not in compliance with the provisions of this regulation shall receive a fine of $1,000, and the marijuana sales permit shall be suspended for the remainder of the current permit term.
(4) 
For any suspensions or revocations, the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services shall provide notice to the permit holder of the intent to suspend or revoke its marijuana sales permit, which date shall be no earlier than seven days after the date of said notice. The permit holder shall have an opportunity to be heard at a hearing. Such hearing shall be held before the Environmental Subcommittee of the City of Springfield Public Health Council. If, after a hearing, the permit holder is found in violation, and the permit to sell marijuana is revoked or suspended by the Subcommittee, all marijuana products shall be removed from the premises for the duration of the revocation or suspension.
D. 
Any citizen who desires to register a complaint under this section may request that the Director of Health and Human Services or its designee initiate an enforcement action.
A. 
Building/Code Enforcement annual report. Marijuana establishments shall file an annual report to the Building Commissioner and Zoning Administrator no later than January 31 of each year, providing a copy of all current applicable state licenses for the facility and/or its owners and demonstrate continued compliance with the conditions of the special permit.
B. 
Building/Code Enforcement annual review. Any operating marijuana establishment within the City of Springfield shall be inspected annually by the Building Commissioner or his/her designee(s), to ensure compliance with this section and with any conditions imposed by the special permit.
C. 
Security plan. All marijuana establishments shall submit final security plans to the Springfield Police Department and the Springfield Fire Department prior to operation. Any updates in security plans shall be submitted forthwith.
D. 
Establishment agents. Each marijuana establishment shall submit completed criminal offender record information checks to the Springfield Law Department for each manager, operator and employee working in the establishment prior to operation. Contact information for each manager and operator of the marijuana establishment shall be given to the City Law Department. Updated contact information shall be submitted within 48 hours of any changes.
E. 
State licensing. Upon receipt from the Cannabis Control Commission, a marijuana establishment shall submit the provisional and final license to the Springfield Law Department. No operation of a marijuana establishment shall begin prior to receipt of a final license from the Cannabis Control Commission.