China residents approve ban on marijuana

by Mary Grow

China voters approved every question on every ballot at the polls June 13.

Their votes were decisive only on three town questions, one new ordinance and two expenditures.  According to Town Clerk Rebecca Hapgood, those results were as follows:

• In favor of a new ordinance that will ban all retail marijuana operations, as defined in the state-wide referendum question voters approved in November 2016, 193 yes to 172 no.
• In favor of spending up to $25,000 for a well and septic system for the former portable classroom where the vote was held, 245 yes to 120 no.
• In favor of spending $12,000 to buy a lot on Alder Park Road adjoining other town-owned land, 203 yes to 163 no.

The ordinance was the most controversial question, with Selectman Joann Austin and others arguing that the town should not ban possible new businesses.  The state allows commercial marijuana growing and testing and marijuana social clubs.  State law gives municipalities the option of limiting or prohibiting such operations.

Ordinance supporters countered that most large-scale marijuana operations would be owned by out-of-state corporations and would export profits.   They reminded opponents that a majority of China voters voted against the November referendum question.

China’s ordinance does not prohibit individual use as allowed by state law, nor does it affect medical marijuana.

On the rest of the ballots, China voters approved a state-wide bond issue question and two Regional School Unit 18 expenditures, the 2017-18 school budget and borrowing for repairs to China Middle School, China Primary School and Belgrade Central School.

The RSU 18 questions were also on ballots in Belgrade, Oakland, Rome and Sidney.