Sheffield Board Approves Cannabis Fee Settlements Totaling $148,000, Skips Flag Endorsement

SHEFFIELD -- March 2, 2026, Sheffield Select Board approves $148,000 in cannabis host community fee settlements and declines to endorse a state flag resolution. The two-member board, meeting March 2, finalized repayment agreements with Berkshire Welcome and Cannaah Provisions, returning a combined $148,000 in host community fees that became legally contested after a court ruling found such charges applied exclusively to cannabis businesses. A third negotiation remains open. Sheffield resident Laura Grunfeld and David Detmold of ChangeTheMassFlag.com asked the board to formally support a citizen's petition resolution urging state Representative Lee Davis and state Senator Paul Mark to back a new flag design, Detmold noted 82 of 90 towns he has worked with voted yes on similar measures, but one board member said he viewed the broadsword on the flag as representing military strength, not threat, and no motion was offered. The non-binding resolution will go before Sheffield voters at the May 4 annual town meeting without a board endorsement. The board also approved two one-day alcohol permits for Dewey Hall Memorial on April 10 and April 11.