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NEHA TECHNICAL ADVISORS' CORNER
Editor's Note: NEHA Technical Advisors are subject-matter experts who represent 28 different areas of environmental health expertise. These individuals are appointed by the NEHA president and are responsible for providing subject-matter expertise and counsel to NEHA's board of directors, staff, affiliates, and members. Within their areas of expertise, their specific duties include the following: staying abreast of the latest developments and educational needs of the profession; identifying and sharing trends and needs of importance; actively assisting in the development and implementation of the education offered at the NERA AEC; assisting NEHA in responding to press inquiries, developing position papers, serving as an expert witness, and speaking on behalf of the association; and other activities requested and agreed upon by the NEHA board of directors. A complete listing of Technical Advisors can be found in the Special Listing section of the Journal.
The NEHA Technical Advisors' Corner was created to provide readers with relevant, timely, and useful information generated from the NEHA Technical Advisors. This feature will be printed occasionally throughout the year as content is made available to NEHA from the Technical Advisors.
Felix Zemel is a health administrator for the Cohasset Board of Health in Massachusetts. He co-serves as Technical Advisor to NEHA's Land Use Planning/Design section.
During the November 2011 election, voters in the commonwealth of Massachusetts decided to join 18 other states in legalizing a form of medical marijuana. The law, which was approved through referendum, permits for the siting of up to 35 medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the commonwealth (Galvin, 2012). The location of a medical marijuana dispensary can have significant impacts on the local economy and the land value of the residents of its host community, and can increase public safety concerns. Many people do not realize the environmental health implications that may ensue. The trend toward permitting medical marijuana dispensaries, and deciding where to place them, is an excellent example of the interrelationship between fields of land...