With cannabis outlets soon to be opened in the city, a look at regulations concerning the use of these products as well as tobacco is considered necessary by the Board of Aldermen.

By Jim Clark

The Somerville Board of Aldermen took up the matter of smoking in public places and approved a resolution requesting that a representative of the Board of Health and the Administration work with the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety to revamp the city’s current ordinances and regulations for the use of tobacco and cannabis products in public places, and recommend signage and posting locations to inform the public where the consumption of those products is prohibited, along with fines for violation.

Alderman At-Large William A. White Jr., who sponsored the resolution along with Alderman At-Large Stephanie Hirsch, addressed the issue saying, “A number of constituents are raising questions about this, and it seems to me to be an appropriate time for the Board to take a look at what’s on the books in regards to tobacco and dealing with cannabis, now that it’s going to be sold as we enact zoning and an ordinance.”

White mentioned that some members of the community think that since there will be outlets for sales of cannabis, that consumers of these products will be coming out of these stores and lighting up right there.

“It’s my understanding that state law still prohibits consumption of cannabis products in public,” White said. “We also have, I believe, one ordinance on the book, the smoking right ordinance that was the work of Alderman Gewirtz. It is my recollection that it was she who submitted it initially. And it probably hasn’t been looked at in a while. So I think it makes sense for the Administration, this Board, and the Board of Health to take a look again at both of them and determine whether they should be tweaked.”

White suggested that if new ordinances should be found to be necessary that the Board of Health’s regulations should also be revised.

The resolution was approved by the Board unanimously and referred to the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety.