Peabody’s Ban on Pot Sales Leaves Money on the Table

In 2018, I spoke before the Peabody City Council’s Legal Affairs Committee. It was my first time speaking before the committee.

The Committee was considering a ban on recreational marijuana sales in Peabody. The arguments in favor of this ban were simply weird – straight out of Reefer Madness. Many of our elected officials at that time talked about their concern for the children, for the plight of alcoholics, for the worsening opioid epidemic – but really no discussion of cannabis sales.

According to the Salem News, I told the Council, “I'm concerned by the tenor this argument has taken. I'm really flabbergasted with the arguments that have been leveled in support of this proposal . . . These arguments are plainly irrational — they're hyperbolic. They're based on a lot of fears but not a lot of facts.”[1]

Now, after the better part of a decade, Massachusetts has a thriving cannabis industry. The supposed negative impacts detractors warned about never really materialized. Meanwhile, municipal tax revenues from cannabis sales in 2025 is projected to hit $35 million – and that’s down from $44 million the year before.[2] All told, municipalities in Massachusetts have collected $214 million from recreational cannabis sales.[3]

Peabody’s share of that $214 million? Approximately $0.00.

We’ve left money on the table.

Since we cannot go back in time, we must move forward, repeal the prohibition, and zone for recreational marijuana. While we have missed the initial windfall that many cities and towns have enjoyed, we must position ourselves to benefit from this industry moving forward. At minimum, this means doing what we need to do so our existing medicinal shops can expand to recreational sales.

Local governments can levy up to a 3% tax on dispensaries. How much Peabody could stand to benefit is not clear. The first Beverly dispensary alone has resulted in tax revenues totaling $296,055 – and now there are three dispensaries and a marijuana manufacturing facility.[4] Lynn took in $1.17 million between 2019 and 2023.[5] Swampscott, with two pot shops, managed to take in $134,793 in 2022.[6]

In a time when our budget is under immense pressure, we can no longer afford the luxury of pearl-clutching over pot. Peabody can’t keep leaving this money on the table. I would propose we repeal the ban on cannabis sales in Peabody and ear-mark future revenues to provide funding for our schools and pay increases to our public school employees.

                                                                        In Solidarity

                                                                        Tristan

[1] Mary Markos, Debate on pot ban heats up in Peabody, Salem News (May 14, 2018) available at https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/debate-on-pot-ban-heats-up-in-peabody/article_646196f0-3a05-5b9f-a137-7d48fe9f2e52.html

[2] Jessica Troe, Shoe Me the Money: Cannabis Revenue, Spending, and Equity in Massachusetts, Mass Budget & Policy Center (Sept. 16, 2025) available at https://massbudget.org/2025/09/15/show-me-the-money-cannabis-revenue-in-massachusetts/

[3] Jessica Troe, Shoe Me the Money: Cannabis Revenue, Spending, and Equity in Massachusetts, Mass Budget & Policy Center (Sept. 16, 2025) available at https://massbudget.org/2025/09/15/show-me-the-money-cannabis-revenue-in-massachusetts/

[4] Paul Leighton, City’s Marijuana money goes up in smoke, Beverly Beat (Mar. 3, 2025) available at https://thebeverlybeat.substack.com/p/citys-marijuana-money-goes-up-in

[5] Anthony Cammalleri, Lynn has raked in $1.7 million in cannabis sales since 2019, ItemLive (Jan. 18, 2023) available at https://itemlive.com/2023/01/18/lynn-has-raked-in-1-7-million-in-cannabis-sales-since-2019/

[6] Anthony Cammalleri, Lynn has raked in $1.7 million in cannabis sales since 2019, ItemLive (Jan. 18, 2023) available at https://itemlive.com/2023/01/18/lynn-has-raked-in-1-7-million-in-cannabis-sales-since-2019/