Robert Celt
New Member
Happy Valley Compassion Center, a nonprofit medical marijuana organization based out of Greenfield, is eyeing Bernardston as a possible location for a pot farm.
Last week, operation facilitator Jim Counihan and his two business partners expressed their reasons to open a production facility in Bernardston, and ensured the approximately 10-member audience of residents and members of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals that they won't operate as a dispensary.
He said Bernardston is a prime growing location due to the town's rich farming history and skilled farmers in the area, and that the operation's goal is to provide anywhere from 12 to 24 local farmers with a job in an up-and-coming industry, a living wage and a benefits package.
"If you don't have the right people who have the right experience, then you can waste your entire crop," he said. "There are clearly very experienced farmers in this area – particularly in Bernardston – who know how to grow. There are skill sets that exist in this town and this part of the state that are extremely unique and are ones that we would very much like to be part of the business."
His business partners think they'll need a 10,000-square-foot growing facility and a 5,000-square-foot space to process the crop to compete with supply and demand, with the possibility of expanding into a larger facility in the future if the industry continues to grow. After reviewing the town's zoning bylaws and scoping out various locations, they believe property near the Kringle Farm or the Inn at Crumpin-Fox are the best two locations for a medical marijuana growing facility. They noted that the plant's cultivation will only take place inside an enclosed structure.
"All we are looking for is to locate a warehouse or a butler building," Counihan said, and further explained his plan to work closely with town officials to ensure the building is equipped with a security system and guarded by police if necessary.
The town exhausted its one-year moratorium on any medical marijuana business proposals slated for Bernardston and, by law, according to selectmen's Chairman Bob Raymond, the town officials must evaluate all propositions from businesses in the industry.
"We can't just say, 'We're not doing it, end of story,'" Raymond said. "We at least have to look at it, and that's what we're doing."
Personally, Raymond said he doesn't wish to condone any drug businesses in Bernardston, but doesn't represent the town as a whole. He invites residents to the Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17 for a question and answer session on positive and negative impacts of opening a grow facility, including tax revenue, safety procedures, expansion and any other topics of concern for residents.
"We want to do this in the spirit of partnership and want to make sure that this works with everybody," Counihan said. "We know not everyone may personally believe in this type of business. You may believe that there's value in medical marijuana but may not want it in your town. We believe that if we work with you collaboratively and have an open conversation, we can find out quickly if it's going to work."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Group Eyes Bernardston Farming Facility
Author: Rachel Rapkin
Photo Credit: None found
Website: The Recorder
Last week, operation facilitator Jim Counihan and his two business partners expressed their reasons to open a production facility in Bernardston, and ensured the approximately 10-member audience of residents and members of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals that they won't operate as a dispensary.
He said Bernardston is a prime growing location due to the town's rich farming history and skilled farmers in the area, and that the operation's goal is to provide anywhere from 12 to 24 local farmers with a job in an up-and-coming industry, a living wage and a benefits package.
"If you don't have the right people who have the right experience, then you can waste your entire crop," he said. "There are clearly very experienced farmers in this area – particularly in Bernardston – who know how to grow. There are skill sets that exist in this town and this part of the state that are extremely unique and are ones that we would very much like to be part of the business."
His business partners think they'll need a 10,000-square-foot growing facility and a 5,000-square-foot space to process the crop to compete with supply and demand, with the possibility of expanding into a larger facility in the future if the industry continues to grow. After reviewing the town's zoning bylaws and scoping out various locations, they believe property near the Kringle Farm or the Inn at Crumpin-Fox are the best two locations for a medical marijuana growing facility. They noted that the plant's cultivation will only take place inside an enclosed structure.
"All we are looking for is to locate a warehouse or a butler building," Counihan said, and further explained his plan to work closely with town officials to ensure the building is equipped with a security system and guarded by police if necessary.
The town exhausted its one-year moratorium on any medical marijuana business proposals slated for Bernardston and, by law, according to selectmen's Chairman Bob Raymond, the town officials must evaluate all propositions from businesses in the industry.
"We can't just say, 'We're not doing it, end of story,'" Raymond said. "We at least have to look at it, and that's what we're doing."
Personally, Raymond said he doesn't wish to condone any drug businesses in Bernardston, but doesn't represent the town as a whole. He invites residents to the Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17 for a question and answer session on positive and negative impacts of opening a grow facility, including tax revenue, safety procedures, expansion and any other topics of concern for residents.
"We want to do this in the spirit of partnership and want to make sure that this works with everybody," Counihan said. "We know not everyone may personally believe in this type of business. You may believe that there's value in medical marijuana but may not want it in your town. We believe that if we work with you collaboratively and have an open conversation, we can find out quickly if it's going to work."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Group Eyes Bernardston Farming Facility
Author: Rachel Rapkin
Photo Credit: None found
Website: The Recorder
