Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
New Bedford - A lawyer representing a medical marijuana dispensary says Beacon Compassion has forged an agreement with the city to locate a store on Hathaway Road. Mayor Jon Mitchell, however, says that while the two sides have made progress in their discussions, there is not yet an agreement in place.
Attorney Joseph Michaud, representing the non-profit dispensary, expressed thanks that the Mitchell team could reach an agreement after months of concern that the project might stall. Now, the city stands to benefit with tens of thousands of dollars per year, while Beacon will not get any tax breaks, he said.
Mitchell, however, said Michaud is wrong that there is a done deal. "There is no deal to report although we have been discussing the possibility of a dispensary with Beacon," he said. "The discussions have progressed but there is no deal as of this point."
Both Michaud and Mitchell said the area of Hathaway Road, where the dispensary would be located, is just off Route 140 and not near any residential neighborhoods. It will not even have the word marijuana in the name, Michaud said. "It is is not going to be an open facility. To get in you need a prescription from a licensed physician."
Mitchell said he had changed his longstanding opposition to locating a dispensary in the city in light of the November referendum vote in which Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state. The city of New Bedford voted in favor of legalization, which won statewide by about 7 percent.
The mayor noted that the state residents can now legally possess up to 12 marijuana plants in their home. "The idea of trying to exclude dispensaries entirely now has to face the reality there will be marijuana grown in our city and many other cities," he said.
Michaud expressed concern to The Standard-Times that the mayor's well-known opposition to locating a marijuana dispensary in the city might have been slowing the process down. The City Council had unanimously endorsed the dispensary proposal in a letter to the Mass. Department of Health last summer.
The dispensary will be located at 366 Hathaway Road, the former "Licks and Wicks" candle shop next door to the shuttered Capt. Frank's seafood market. The dilapidated building will be razed and the dispensary built new.
City Councilor Ian Abreu, a strong proponent of locating a dispensary in the city, praised the agreement and the location.
Both he and Michaud made the observation that the location is nowhere near a school, and besides not being part of a neighborhood, has few pedestrians, has easy automobile access and is not near a playground or basketball court. The area is already zoned mixed use.
Michaud said that a purchase and sale agreement has already been signed for the 366 Hathaway Road property.
There will be no tax breaks for the dispensary, no TIF agreements and no subsidy, he said. There will also be no fanfare. The modest sign will say only Beacon Compassion.
Michaud said that the five-year host agreement calls on the dispensary to pay upwards of 3.3 percent of gross revenues, up to at least $100,000 in year five, in addition to other taxes such as property taxes.
After the referendum vote, Mitchell changed his opinion of the dispensary but Michaud said the talks still moved slowly and he became frustrated. In talking to The Standard-Times, he observed that with a proposed dispensary not yet ready on Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth, and another one still unfinished on Alden Road in Fairhaven, local medical marijuana patients need to travel all the way to Brockton today.
Michaud said he was concerned that the slow pace of talks could allow the suburbs to jump in first, depriving New Bedford of revenue. Both Dartmouth and Fairhaven are working toward opening marijuana dispensaries.
Michaud had no firm target for an opening date.
Mitchell said the recreational marijuana referendum gives medical marijuana dispensaries a leg up in competition to become full retail dispensaries and his goal has been to think about the proper zoning measures so that any New Bedford dispensaries are in the right place.
"My goal is to protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Bedford Moves Closer To Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Author: Steve Urbon
Contact: 508-979-4440
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Website: South Coast Today
Attorney Joseph Michaud, representing the non-profit dispensary, expressed thanks that the Mitchell team could reach an agreement after months of concern that the project might stall. Now, the city stands to benefit with tens of thousands of dollars per year, while Beacon will not get any tax breaks, he said.
Mitchell, however, said Michaud is wrong that there is a done deal. "There is no deal to report although we have been discussing the possibility of a dispensary with Beacon," he said. "The discussions have progressed but there is no deal as of this point."
Both Michaud and Mitchell said the area of Hathaway Road, where the dispensary would be located, is just off Route 140 and not near any residential neighborhoods. It will not even have the word marijuana in the name, Michaud said. "It is is not going to be an open facility. To get in you need a prescription from a licensed physician."
Mitchell said he had changed his longstanding opposition to locating a dispensary in the city in light of the November referendum vote in which Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state. The city of New Bedford voted in favor of legalization, which won statewide by about 7 percent.
The mayor noted that the state residents can now legally possess up to 12 marijuana plants in their home. "The idea of trying to exclude dispensaries entirely now has to face the reality there will be marijuana grown in our city and many other cities," he said.
Michaud expressed concern to The Standard-Times that the mayor's well-known opposition to locating a marijuana dispensary in the city might have been slowing the process down. The City Council had unanimously endorsed the dispensary proposal in a letter to the Mass. Department of Health last summer.
The dispensary will be located at 366 Hathaway Road, the former "Licks and Wicks" candle shop next door to the shuttered Capt. Frank's seafood market. The dilapidated building will be razed and the dispensary built new.
City Councilor Ian Abreu, a strong proponent of locating a dispensary in the city, praised the agreement and the location.
Both he and Michaud made the observation that the location is nowhere near a school, and besides not being part of a neighborhood, has few pedestrians, has easy automobile access and is not near a playground or basketball court. The area is already zoned mixed use.
Michaud said that a purchase and sale agreement has already been signed for the 366 Hathaway Road property.
There will be no tax breaks for the dispensary, no TIF agreements and no subsidy, he said. There will also be no fanfare. The modest sign will say only Beacon Compassion.
Michaud said that the five-year host agreement calls on the dispensary to pay upwards of 3.3 percent of gross revenues, up to at least $100,000 in year five, in addition to other taxes such as property taxes.
After the referendum vote, Mitchell changed his opinion of the dispensary but Michaud said the talks still moved slowly and he became frustrated. In talking to The Standard-Times, he observed that with a proposed dispensary not yet ready on Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth, and another one still unfinished on Alden Road in Fairhaven, local medical marijuana patients need to travel all the way to Brockton today.
Michaud said he was concerned that the slow pace of talks could allow the suburbs to jump in first, depriving New Bedford of revenue. Both Dartmouth and Fairhaven are working toward opening marijuana dispensaries.
Michaud had no firm target for an opening date.
Mitchell said the recreational marijuana referendum gives medical marijuana dispensaries a leg up in competition to become full retail dispensaries and his goal has been to think about the proper zoning measures so that any New Bedford dispensaries are in the right place.
"My goal is to protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Bedford Moves Closer To Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Author: Steve Urbon
Contact: 508-979-4440
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Website: South Coast Today
