STURBRIDGE - In light of new information brought forward to them by two state legislators, the Board of Selectmen rescinded its “letter of non-opposition” for a proposed medical marijuana dispensary in town. However, the proponent has asked the board to reconsider its action.

“This information was not available to us at that time. And my decision, I would say, was based on what information we had at that time,” Selectman Priscilla C. Gimas said Monday. “Having light of this information, I do not believe my vote, I would say, was in the best interest of the town. And, that’s why I’m asking for a reconsideration.”

In a 3-2 vote on Jan. 18, the Board of Selectmen authorized the town administrator to prepare a “letter of non-opposition” to accompany Heal Inc.’s application to the state Department of Public Health seeking a license to operate a registered marijuana dispensary at the Sturbridge Business Park, 690 Main St., on the west side of Route 20. Selectmen Mary B. Dowling and Craig A. Moran voted against the proposal.

In a 3-1 vote on Monday, selectmen rescinded their "letter of non-opposition." Although she said she shared the same concerns as her fellow selectmen, Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Blanchard voted against rescinding because it is her understanding that issuing the letter just means a medical marijuana dispensary is an allowed use in the overlay district.

On Tuesday, Katherine Braucher Adams, the attorney representing Heal Inc., respectfully requested that the board reconsider its vote and ratify the issuance of the letter. In addition, Ms. Adams requested that this matter be placed on the agenda for a hearing and her client has an opportunity to be heard.

In a letter addressed to Town Administrator Leon Gaumond Jr., Ms. Adams said it's her client's position that the vote to rescind the "letter of opposition" is improper because it was not on the agenda, which is a point Mr. Gaumond made to selectmen Monday night. Also, notice of the discussion was not provided to members of the public or to interested parties.

Ms. Adams said the issuance of the letter concluded when it voted to issue the "letter of non-opposition" back in January. In the time since the letter was issued, Heal Inc. has "expended significant funds," including payments under an option agreement, as well as consulting fees.

On Monday night, state Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, and state Rep. Todd M. Smola, R-Warren, filled the room with anxiety and almost caused panic attacks about “the regulation and taxation of marijuana act.”

Ms.Gobi said the Statehouse sent a group to Colorado, which legalized marijuana in January 2014, for a fact-finding mission and what they found caused concern.

Ms. Gobi said Colorado heavily taxed its marijuana sales, which will not be the case in the commonwealth.

According to November’s ballot question, she said the total tax rate of 12 percent (including general sales tax and a 2 percent local option) for Massachusetts is far lower than Colorado, which is greater than 30 percent.

If it passes, Ms. Gobi said communities would need a town referendum to limit the number of marijuana stores. Without a town referendum, they can't, she said. In addition, if a community has already approved a medical marijuana facility, they cannot say no to a retail store, she said.

If that wasn’t enough to leave the selectmen’s collective heads spinning, Ms. Gobi also said the “edible” marijuana market, which is big business in Colorado, would cause another major issue in Massachusetts.

“Instead of ‘Pop-Tarts,’ they’re pot tarts,” she said. “The other thing that this ballot question doesn’t address, there isn’t any limit set up for the amount of ‘THC’ (the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis) that can be in a product.”

Even though you have to be at least 21 to purchase medical marijuana, Ms. Gobi said when you market marijuana “gummy bears,” kids are going to get their hands on it.

“You’re supposed to have one ‘gummy bear.’ Who only eats one ‘gummy bear’?” Ms. Gobi said. “So they (Colorado) are having a lot more emergency room visits of people getting sick, digesting too much THC.”

Ms. Gobi referenced the case against David K. Njuguna, the man accused of killing Trooper Thomas L. Clardy when he crashed his vehicle into the trooper’s parked cruiser in the breakdown lane of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton on March 16.

Before the crash, Mr. Njuguna had purchased marijuana cigarettes, and a partially smoked marijuana cigarette was found in the car. Blood specimens seized by state police found the 30-year-old Webster resident had "an active THC level" at the time of the crash.

Ms. Gobi said unlike a driver being found to be under the influence of alcohol, there aren’t any tools available to do roadside tests for “THC” amounts.