An eclectic group of Rhode Islanders that includes an acupuncturist, the state's former auditor general, a retired Cranston police chief and a longtime educator are affiliated with the 15 applicants seeking to open the first compassion center to sell marijuana to patients in the state's growing medical-marijuana program.
The state Health Department released the voluminous applications on Friday morning that provide a wealth of details about the proposed centers. The information identifies who would be running them, where they would be located, how they would produce the marijuana and what kind of security plan would be in place.
Some of the applicants provided the Health Department with aerial photographs and pictures of the buildings where the marijuana would be sold. The applications, which read like detailed business proposals, total more than 1,000 pages and can be found on the Health Department's Web site at Rhode Island Department of Health: Medical Marijuana Program.
The state released the documents to give the public three weeks to review and digest the information before it hosts a public hearing on June 29 at 3 Capitol Hill, Providence. The public input will be used by the Health Department in reviewing each application, said Annemarie Beardsworth, the department's spokeswoman.
The Health Department has plans to allow the establishment of up to three compassion centers. Beardsworth said that health officials hope to select the first operator of a compassion center on July 29. After that, it would be up to the operator to determine when the center could be up and running.
State figures show that there are 1,728 patients licensed to use marijuana in Rhode Island, and about 50 patients have been joining the program each week.
According to the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., Rhode Island is the sixth state to sanction medical-marijuana dispensaries. California, Colorado and New Mexico are the only states with operating dispensaries, but it's just a matter of time before Rhode Island, Maine, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., join them.
The project said there are 1,100 dispensaries in Colorado and more than that in California.
Most of the proposed compassion centers in Rhode Island are in the heavily populated Providence metropolitan area, but there is one applicant looking to open an establishment in Portsmouth and another, possibly, in Woonsocket.
Dennis Gentili, president of Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Dispensary, said that the team he has assembled is looking for a site in the northern part of the state. He did not name a specific city or town in his application, but he said in a telephone interview that he would like to open the center in a Woonsocket strip mall. He said that a separate site to grow the marijuana would not be near the dispensary.
Gentili, who is a part-time assistant school principal in Thompson, Conn., said that he was a principal and educator in Woonsocket and West Warwick for 26 years. He said that several of his friends have cancer and he felt that the medical-marijuana program was a worthwhile way for them to cope with chronic pain.
Gentili said that he would like to produce and sell enough marijuana for about 1,000 patients during the center's first year of operation.
"It seemed like a good idea," he said. "We want to give something back to the community. We put together a nice little package."
The people behind the Rhode Island Compassion Center hope to be selected to open the business at 47 Pettaconsett Ave., in Cranston. Its officials, led by David P. DiSanto, also plan on running a cultivation facility at the same location.
Among the principals involved are Ernest A. Almonte, who just retired as the state's auditor general, and Col. Augustine A. Comella, a retired Cranston police chief. Many of the applicants would have retired local or state police officers in charge of security.
The Providence and state police have expressed concerns that the compassion and cultivation centers could become targets for criminals looking to cash in on the state-sponsored program.
Another applicant, Innovative Solutions for Non-Profits Inc., wants to open a compassion center and cultivation facility at 391 W. Fountain St., near the Providence police headquarters. Officials from the firm cite the proximity to the police station as well as easy access to customers from Route 95, Route 195, Route 10 and Route 6 as reasons why Innovative Solutions should be selected.
Among the other proposals is Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center Inc., which would operate in Portsmouth. Its chief executive officer is Dr. Seth Bock, who runs the Newport Acupuncture & Wellness Spa.
The Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, named after the late representative who championed the medical-marijuana law in Rhode Island, looks to be a full-service compassion center. Aside from growing and selling marijuana, the center, at 431 Harris Ave., in Providence, would offer an array of holistic services such as yoga, tai chi, Reiki and hypnotherapy.
THE PLAYERSApplicants
Alternative Therapeutics Inc., Christopher D. Sands, executive director. The proposed site is 50 Colorado Ave., Warwick.
Breakwater Herbal Compassion Center, Henry A. Zaleski, managing member. The proposed site is a "health wellness center," in Cranston/Warwick.
Community Care Health and Wellness Inc., Gregory Soscia, chief executive officer. The proposed site is 3-5 Battey Ave., Coventry.
Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center Inc., Dr. Seth Bock, chief executive officer. The proposed site is 200 High Point Ave., Unit B-6, Portsmouth.
Growing Hope Industries, Scott Louis De Lotto, chief executive officer. The proposed site is Warwick, no specific address.
Innovative Solutions for Non-Profits Inc., William Walter, president and chief executive officer. The proposed site is 391 W. Fountain St., Providence.
Marimed Caregivers Inc., Alfred L. Hamel, director. The proposed site is 27 Broadway, Pawtucket.
Ocean State Organics, John Verdecchia, director. The proposed site is 603 Pawtucket Ave., Pawtucket.
Rhode Island Compassion Center, David P. DiSanto, director. The proposed site is 47 Pettaconsett Ave., Cranston.
Rhode Island Institute for Medical Marijuana, Inc., Michael J. Follick, principal officer. Proposed site is 1210 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, 2nd floor.
Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Dispensary, Dennis Gentili, president. The proposed site is in northern Rhode Island, possibly Woonsocket. No specific address.
Rhode Island Medical Caregivers, Adam J. Vanacore. The proposed site would be Providence, possibly the West End. No specific address.
Summit Medical Compassion Center Inc., Frank P. Maggiacomo, president. The proposed site is Kent Center, Suites 1001 and 1002, 2756 Post Rd., Warwick.
Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, Gerald J. McGraw Jr., president. The proposed site is 431 Harris Ave., Providence.
University Compassion Center, Dr. Todd E. Handel, director. The proposed site may be at Handel's medical office at 1145 Main St., Pawtucket.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Providence Journal
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: The Providence Journal
Copyright: 2010 The Providence Journal Co.
Website: 15 applicants look to establish first medical marijuana dispensaries in Rhode Island
The state Health Department released the voluminous applications on Friday morning that provide a wealth of details about the proposed centers. The information identifies who would be running them, where they would be located, how they would produce the marijuana and what kind of security plan would be in place.
Some of the applicants provided the Health Department with aerial photographs and pictures of the buildings where the marijuana would be sold. The applications, which read like detailed business proposals, total more than 1,000 pages and can be found on the Health Department's Web site at Rhode Island Department of Health: Medical Marijuana Program.
The state released the documents to give the public three weeks to review and digest the information before it hosts a public hearing on June 29 at 3 Capitol Hill, Providence. The public input will be used by the Health Department in reviewing each application, said Annemarie Beardsworth, the department's spokeswoman.
The Health Department has plans to allow the establishment of up to three compassion centers. Beardsworth said that health officials hope to select the first operator of a compassion center on July 29. After that, it would be up to the operator to determine when the center could be up and running.
State figures show that there are 1,728 patients licensed to use marijuana in Rhode Island, and about 50 patients have been joining the program each week.
According to the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., Rhode Island is the sixth state to sanction medical-marijuana dispensaries. California, Colorado and New Mexico are the only states with operating dispensaries, but it's just a matter of time before Rhode Island, Maine, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., join them.
The project said there are 1,100 dispensaries in Colorado and more than that in California.
Most of the proposed compassion centers in Rhode Island are in the heavily populated Providence metropolitan area, but there is one applicant looking to open an establishment in Portsmouth and another, possibly, in Woonsocket.
Dennis Gentili, president of Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Dispensary, said that the team he has assembled is looking for a site in the northern part of the state. He did not name a specific city or town in his application, but he said in a telephone interview that he would like to open the center in a Woonsocket strip mall. He said that a separate site to grow the marijuana would not be near the dispensary.
Gentili, who is a part-time assistant school principal in Thompson, Conn., said that he was a principal and educator in Woonsocket and West Warwick for 26 years. He said that several of his friends have cancer and he felt that the medical-marijuana program was a worthwhile way for them to cope with chronic pain.
Gentili said that he would like to produce and sell enough marijuana for about 1,000 patients during the center's first year of operation.
"It seemed like a good idea," he said. "We want to give something back to the community. We put together a nice little package."
The people behind the Rhode Island Compassion Center hope to be selected to open the business at 47 Pettaconsett Ave., in Cranston. Its officials, led by David P. DiSanto, also plan on running a cultivation facility at the same location.
Among the principals involved are Ernest A. Almonte, who just retired as the state's auditor general, and Col. Augustine A. Comella, a retired Cranston police chief. Many of the applicants would have retired local or state police officers in charge of security.
The Providence and state police have expressed concerns that the compassion and cultivation centers could become targets for criminals looking to cash in on the state-sponsored program.
Another applicant, Innovative Solutions for Non-Profits Inc., wants to open a compassion center and cultivation facility at 391 W. Fountain St., near the Providence police headquarters. Officials from the firm cite the proximity to the police station as well as easy access to customers from Route 95, Route 195, Route 10 and Route 6 as reasons why Innovative Solutions should be selected.
Among the other proposals is Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center Inc., which would operate in Portsmouth. Its chief executive officer is Dr. Seth Bock, who runs the Newport Acupuncture & Wellness Spa.
The Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, named after the late representative who championed the medical-marijuana law in Rhode Island, looks to be a full-service compassion center. Aside from growing and selling marijuana, the center, at 431 Harris Ave., in Providence, would offer an array of holistic services such as yoga, tai chi, Reiki and hypnotherapy.
THE PLAYERSApplicants
Alternative Therapeutics Inc., Christopher D. Sands, executive director. The proposed site is 50 Colorado Ave., Warwick.
Breakwater Herbal Compassion Center, Henry A. Zaleski, managing member. The proposed site is a "health wellness center," in Cranston/Warwick.
Community Care Health and Wellness Inc., Gregory Soscia, chief executive officer. The proposed site is 3-5 Battey Ave., Coventry.
Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center Inc., Dr. Seth Bock, chief executive officer. The proposed site is 200 High Point Ave., Unit B-6, Portsmouth.
Growing Hope Industries, Scott Louis De Lotto, chief executive officer. The proposed site is Warwick, no specific address.
Innovative Solutions for Non-Profits Inc., William Walter, president and chief executive officer. The proposed site is 391 W. Fountain St., Providence.
Marimed Caregivers Inc., Alfred L. Hamel, director. The proposed site is 27 Broadway, Pawtucket.
Ocean State Organics, John Verdecchia, director. The proposed site is 603 Pawtucket Ave., Pawtucket.
Rhode Island Compassion Center, David P. DiSanto, director. The proposed site is 47 Pettaconsett Ave., Cranston.
Rhode Island Institute for Medical Marijuana, Inc., Michael J. Follick, principal officer. Proposed site is 1210 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, 2nd floor.
Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Dispensary, Dennis Gentili, president. The proposed site is in northern Rhode Island, possibly Woonsocket. No specific address.
Rhode Island Medical Caregivers, Adam J. Vanacore. The proposed site would be Providence, possibly the West End. No specific address.
Summit Medical Compassion Center Inc., Frank P. Maggiacomo, president. The proposed site is Kent Center, Suites 1001 and 1002, 2756 Post Rd., Warwick.
Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, Gerald J. McGraw Jr., president. The proposed site is 431 Harris Ave., Providence.
University Compassion Center, Dr. Todd E. Handel, director. The proposed site may be at Handel's medical office at 1145 Main St., Pawtucket.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: The Providence Journal
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: The Providence Journal
Copyright: 2010 The Providence Journal Co.
Website: 15 applicants look to establish first medical marijuana dispensaries in Rhode Island
