PROVINCETOWN — Town officials are looking to create a new local license that would give them more jurisdiction over marijuana businesses.

Just as bars must get a local liquor license, the town has drafted a proposal that would require marijuana businesses to obtain an annual marijuana establishment license — in addition to the already-required state license.

The town wanted residents to have a local authority for residents to turn to if there were any issues, Acting Town Manager David Gardner said.

“We want to have a venue where we can have our concerns addressed by the businesses,” he said.

If approved, the town would require businesses to submit operating and security plans, and the licensing board could issue citations if the host community agreement between the town and the business is not being upheld.

A license holder would also need to make sure the business doesn't become a nuisance to the community, according to the draft regulations.

The town's plan isn't intended to delve too deeply into the marijuana regulation, but more into the effects a local business could have on its neighbors.

"We're looking at the more local aspects," he said, like if there are long lines blocking traffic.

The local license regulations parrot the state's requirements, said Licensing Agent Aaron Hobart. The Licensing Board has held workshops and taken comments from perspective businesses about the new license, he said.

The Licensing Board also handles taxi, bike rental and lodging licenses, but the proposed marijuana establishment license is akin to a liquor license, Hobart said.

"That would be the closest comparison," he said.

The local license would not go any further than state regulations on businesses. Instead, Gardner said it largely defers to those regulations.

Provincetown, which has the highest number of liquor licenses per capita in the state, could be in a similar stratosphere when it comes to marijuana businesses. So far, there are seven pending applications, Gardner said.

The town does not have a cap on the number of bars it will license, nor does it have a limit on marijuana businesses, as many towns do. In the drafting of community host agreements, the town has been requiring marijuana businesses be open year-round in order to maintain access.

Provincetown is one of the only communities in the state that is creating a local licensing process, which the state does not require, Gardner said. Somerville enacted a local licensing process last year.

Wellfleet is also pondering such a process, said Jeanne Maclauchlan, the town's principal clerk. The town has taken no action so far, but is in “the early stages” of discussing the idea.

“There’s nothing officially happening,” she said.

The Provincetown Licensing Board is taking up the proposed regulations Tuesday. A $750 annual fee is up for discussion later this month.

Once the local process gets up and running, the town hopes businesses will start applying and get up and running for the tourist season.

"We're still hoping at least one of them will open up this summer," Gardner said.

— Follow Ethan Genter on Twitter: @EthanGenterCCT.