How Revere Handles Cannabis Regulations: A Practical Guide

Every city handles cannabis regulations a little differently. In Revere, Massachusetts, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dispensary Zoning

Revere prohibits every type of non-medical marijuana establishment citywide, including cultivators, testing labs, product manufacturers and retailers, under an opt-out ordinance passed in 2017. Medical marijuana treatment centers are not covered by this citywide ban.

Key details: Scope: Citywide ban, all non-medical establishments. Covers: Cultivators, labs, manufacturers, retailers. Excludes: Medical marijuana treatment centers. Legal basis: M.G.L. c. 94G § 3(a)(2) opt-out. Adopted: C.O. 17-364, 12/11/2017.

Section 9.18.010 does not set a fine schedule; the prohibition works by blocking a non-medical marijuana establishment from getting the local approvals and host community agreement it needs to be state-licensed. Operating an unlicensed marijuana establishment in the city would expose the operator to enforcement under state cannabis licensing law rather than a locally printed city fine.

Compared to other cities, Revere takes a harder line on dispensary zoning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Buffer Zones

Revere's zoning table keeps medical marijuana treatment centers 400 feet from residential uses, parks, playgrounds, schools and religious buildings, measured from the center's own principal entrance to the nearest property line of the protected use. The city also bans every other type of marijuana establishment outright, so a state-registered nonprofit treatment center is the only cannabis business Revere zoning even permits.

Key details: Buffer distance: 400 feet. Protected uses: Homes, parks, schools, churches. Measured from: Entrance to nearest lot line. Recreational cannabis: Banned citywide (Ch. 9.18). Daily penalty: Up to $300 per day.

Revere's zoning enforcement chapter, § 17.60.090, sets the citywide penalty for any Title 17 violation, including a treatment center sited inside the 400-foot buffer, at up to three hundred dollars per day for each day the violation continues. The building inspector can also withhold, revoke or refuse to renew any permit, certificate or license tied to a use that does not conform to this title under §§ 17.60.040 and 17.60.050.

This is one of the stricter rules in Revere's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Revere is tougher than many cities when it comes to cannabis regulations. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Revere, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Revere's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.