PEABODY, Mass. — The Peabody Board of Health is trying to stop people from smoking marijuana inside private clubs or hotel rooms.
The board will hold a public hearing Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.on a proposed amendment to the city's environmental smoking regulations.
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The amendment would only allowing smoking tobacco - and not marijuana.
Under the current regulations, hotels and motels can designate some smoking rooms as long as 75 percent of the rooms are smoke free.
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Health Director Shannon Cameron wrote to Boston 25 News on Monday night saying, in part:
"The Board believes this proposal would help protect the health of workers and others who may be exposed to secondhand smoke."
Marijuana remains a polarizing issue in Peabody, while voters across the commonwealth approved Question 4 by a strong margin in 2016, only 2,200 votes in Peabody separated yes from no.
Steve Georgion has lived in Peabody his whole life and opposes pot clubs.
"Medical marijuana is fine, all the rest, I don't believe in it," he said.
Others, such as restaurant owner George Tkugianos support allowing pot clubs and believe it could benefit many in the town.
"There's a lot of people smoking behind closed doors, now there's a lot of people smoking in their back yards and whatnot so I believe bringing it out forward would help bring everybody together and maybe bring more money for the community," said Tkugianos.
Communications Director for the Marijuana Policy Project Jim Borghesani told Boston 25 News the concerns are completely overblown.
“We have been living with reefer madness hysteria for nearly a century so it’s not surprising to see moves like this. Cannabis consumption is already prohibited in public and where tobacco is prohibited, but if some towns want to pursue these types of actions they can certainly try," he said.
According to the health department director, the board is expected to vote after the public meeting.
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