LIVERMORE FALLS — Existing medical cannabis licensing fees will temporarily be applied to recreational marijuana businesses, the Select Board decided May 5.

The board members agreed, 4-1, to the temporary change while officials review whether the fees are higher than necessary and accurately reflect the town’s oversight costs.

Bryce Cobb, Livermore Falls’ code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector, health officer and E-911 addressing officer, said voters approved the amended cannabis ordinance April 28.

Cobb said the amended ordinance allows recreational marijuana businesses and that the next step was establishing a fee schedule. Recreational cannabis businesses operating in town would require local licensing approval under the ordinance.

Asked whether he had fee schedules from other towns for comparison, Cobb said he did not. He also noted the town’s existing fee schedule specifically references medical cannabis.

“So, you could simply have it be medical and adult use,” Cobb said when discussing whether the existing fee structure could apply to recreational businesses.

Select Board member Bruce Peary recommended temporarily using the same fee structure and reviewing it in the future.

“My recommendation is that we make it the same as the medical for at least this fiscal year and then look at it again in the next fiscal year to either up it or lower it,” Peary said.

Cobb said he will review how much staff time and administrative work cannabis oversight requires.

“I’m coming back to you guys I think in June with those estimates,” Cobb said, “to give you a better idea.”

Cobb said the initial application fee is $1,500 per license type, while retail renewals are $1,000 and manufacturing and cultivation renewals are $1,500.

Chairman Will Kenniston said the fees may be too high for cannabis businesses. “I’ve always wanted to see the price lower myself,” he said.

Kenniston also questioned whether the town’s oversight costs justified the fees.

“I have a hard time believing that it’s costing us $1,500 to oversee this stuff,” he said, pointing to the growing availability of THC products in retail stores. “You can go down the market and grab a THC drink,” he said.

Kenniston later said he believes some towns are overcharging cannabis businesses.

“I think they’re personally gouging these businesses,” Kenniston said. “I just can’t justify it.”

Asked if he would support temporarily keeping the fees as they are so they can be reviewed later, Kenniston said he would.

“I would like to see their applications processed if we can agree to take this up again,” Kenniston said. “I would like to see us really discuss lowering it to just be fair.”

Peary said he was also open to revisiting the fee structure later. “I want to make sure that the machinery runs smoothly and the applications are processed to get the ball rolling,” Peary said.

The issue will be discussed at the board’s June 2 meeting.

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