The Town Council introduced two ordinances Monday which will allow for retail sale of cannabis products on Water and Mill streets and will ban consumption of cannabis on all town-owned property, including public parks.
The town already bans smoking of tobacco products at its facilities and in town-owned parks. The proposed ordinance changes, which go to a public hearing at the council's June 28 meeting, add cannabis and vaping to the list of smoking prohibitions.
The prohibition extends to the town's firehouses, the Newton pool, and other work places such as Town Hall, the sewer and water plants and Department of Public Works facilities.
The changes also delete smoking violations as "petty disorderly persons offense," but adds language that violators "shall pay a penalty of $50 for a first offense and a penalty of $200 for any subsequent offense."
"No smoking" signs will be posted at all public areas where smoking is prohibited by the new language.