By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — Casco is putting pot on the back burner.

That’s because there is a lot of prep work to be done first.

The Town of Casco’s management and elected officials agreed that more research is needed before putting a recreational marijuana opt-in clause before voters.

In fact, the opt-in ordinance is likely to not be developed until the town meeting in 2021.

The item was on the agenda of the Casco Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday night, but the discussion was rather brief. The discussion included the idea of inviting guest speakers, attorneys, etc., to learn as much as possible about the ramifications of opting in to have recreational marijuana businesses in the town’s borders.

Also, the board wanted to get a better idea of how residents felt about the issue.

Mary Fernandes reported to her fellow selectmen about the conference that she had attended, which covered the recreational marijuana law and was sponsored by Maine Municipal Association (MMA).

Basically, she had some conversations with attorneys.

“The rules and regulations are ever ongoing. It is very complex,” she said.

“I also learned it is not on top of the town of Casco’s priority list,” she said.

Fernandes mentioned next year’s town meeting.

Casco Town Manager Courtney O’Donnell said, “I would like to specifically request that this not go before the town in 2020.”

O’Donnell said that she would prefer to get a handle on her position as town manager before taking on the drafting of an ordinance that would have to happen in roughly eight months.

There are some major projects coming up: like the public easement/plowing issue, the Pike’s Corner solution, the budget process. There are a lot of large projects, she said.

Not to mention that the marijuana law is complex, she said.

“In the meantime, we should educate ourselves,” O’Donnell said, adding that it was important to be able to educate the residents as well as trying to gauge how they feel about the issue.

Fernandes said, “Just the other day, a man came up to me and quietly said he didn’t want marijuana retail stores in Casco.”

Selectman Grant Plummer asked what would happen if someone started a citizens’ petition to get it to town meeting as a warrant article.

Town Manager O’Donnell responded to Plummer’s concern.

“If the petition process came up, the board could put a moratorium in place,” she said.

That would give the town time to write an ordinance that took all parties into account and was well-researched.

She said she would be meeting with one of the individuals who had approached the board hoping to start a business in the marijuana industry.

“I am more than happy to explain this is a period of transition,” she said.