Should Wareham allow more than three cannabis retail establishments? That’s the question Town Meeting will answer on Monday, April 27. 

Wareham resident Jaakko Rinta submitted a citizens petition that asks the town to remove its current cap of three retail cannabis licenses. 

Rinta said the cap on the number of licenses hurts the job market in the cannabis industry and hurts the town and its young residents who want to make a career in the cannabis industry. 

Town officials have by-and-large not shared Rinta’s views. 

Multiple Select Board members have expressed concerns that opening up Wareham to additional cannabis retail would oversaturate the market. 

“Wareham’s not small, but it’s small,” said Select Board member Ron Besse. 

Finance Committee members had concerns about the formatting of the petition, including the fact the petition removed the cap entirely, rather than raising it to a specified number. 

Planning Board member Carl Schultz said the minimum number of allowed cannabis retail establishments was three, based on state law. He didn’t see a benefit to the town of allowing more. 

“Since we originally passed the ordinances opening the doors to marijuana establishments, Wareham benefited from first-mover action,” said Schultz. However, he added, other towns have since caught up to Wareham and allowed for their own cannabis retail build outs. 

“I don’t see that it’s going to benefit the citizens by giving them more access — there’s plenty of access in the area — and I don’t see that it will necessarily benefit the town by creating more revenue,” he said.