Updated at 9:12 p.m. to embed a draft of the proposed ordinance that would regulate recreational marijuana businesses. The update also includes Councilor E. Henry Twiggs and Associate City Solicitor Tasheena Davis addressing the issue of possession in a motor vehicle and Councilor at Large Jesse Lederman discussing the need to specify what is meant by a container's "seal."

SPRINGFIELD -- The City Council took the first of three steps required to establish rules to regulate recreational marijuana businesses Monday at City Hall.

The Council's unanimous voice vote was one of three required to establish an ordinance, "Marijuana - Adult Use and Establishments." (see draft below)

The draft of the proposed ordinance was referred to the Council General Government Committee after councilors discussed amendments related to fines, jail time and other parts of the proposed ordinance.

Ward 3 Councilor Melvin A. Edwards, chairman of that committee, said a meeting will be held later this month to continue fine-tuning the measure.

Ward 4 Councilor E. Henry Twiggs asked about the legality of possessing small amounts of marijuana in Massachusetts vs. the part of the proposed ordinance that would fine someone for possession of pot in an "open container" in a vehicle.

"Don't we have a state law now that allows you to have an ounce?" Twiggs said.

Associate City Solicitor Tasheena Davis said that that was correct but that what the provision in the proposed ordinance addresses is possession in a motor vehicle. In that case, the proposal states that marijuana that is possessed in the passenger area of a vehicle -- in other words, not the trunk or glove compartment -- must be enclosed in an unopened container.

The proposed ordinance defines open container this way: "Open Container shall mean that the package containing marijuana or marijuana products has its seal broken or from which the contents have been partially removed or consumed."

Violation of that provision would net a $100 fine and forfeiture of the pot under the proposed ordinance.

Councilor at Large Jesse Lederman said the nature of what constitutes a container's seal in such a case should be specified. Davis said she would explore that.

The proposed ordinance contains definitions such as "marijuana," "marijuana retailer" and "marijuana transporter," explanations of violations and penalties, host community agreement details and security and building code requirements.

The proposal the Council considered Monday is different from a zoning ordinance the Council also is fine-tuning that would limit areas and streets in the city where recreational marijuana facilities could be located, Council President Orlando Ramos said.

Check back with The Republican and MassLive.com for more coverage of the Springfield City Council's consideration of regulations for recreational marijuana businesses.

Draft of Springfield City Council regulations for recreational marijuana businesses: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd