Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Medical marijuana may finally become available on Cape Cod by mid-2017, nearly five years after the state's voters legalized its use.
Applicants are getting close to construction of dispensaries in Mashpee, Dennis and Bourne.
The first to open will likely be on American Way in South Dennis, run by the Barnstable-based William Noyes Webster Foundation. The nonprofit organization plans to grow and process its marijuana in a $6.3 million facility in a Plymouth industrial park.
The Plymouth inspectional departments are currently reviewing a building permit application for the project, according to Paul McAuliffe, director of Plymouth's inspectional services.
The permit is expected to be issued by Friday, according to the nonprofit's president Jane Heatley.
"Callahan Construction has been hired and will begin in August," Heatley said. The massive renovation project should be completed by December or January, she said, and the building should then be ready for state inspection.
Growing, drying and processing the marijuana will take another four months.
"We plan to open in Dennis in April," Heatley said.
Heatley predicts the foundation, which was given its provisional registration by the state Department of Public Health in June 2014, will be the first to open on the Cape.
William Noyes Webster Foundation plans to open a dispensary in Dartmouth around the same time as the Dennis dispensary. It will later open in Cambridge, if all goes as planned, Heatley said.
Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts, which failed to secure provisional registration in 2014 but overturned the state's decision in court, is just a short step behind William Noyes Webster.
The organization has submitted its architectural plans for a cultivation facility and dispensary at 9 Collins Ave. in Plymouth for state review, according to Medical Marijuana president Jonathan Herlihy.
"DPH reviewed the plans and we now have to resubmit them with some minor revisions by August 12," Herlihy said.
Marijuana products from the Plymouth cultivation facility will also be sold at a dispensary being planned for Echo Road in Mashpee. "Right now we're out to bid with three different contractors for the Plymouth building and we should be clearing the land in Mashpee by sometime in August," Herlihy said. "If all goes well, we may start construction by late September."
Herlihy is optimistic in his projections, saying the company could be growing marijuana by November.
"We already have host agreements and zoning approval in Mashpee and Plymouth," he said.
While Herlihy predicts the dispensaries could be open as soon as January or February, Heatley disagrees.
"They haven't even finished their architectural review yet," she said.
McAuliffe said Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts has yet to submit a building permit request.
Meanwhile the Orleans-based Haven Center recently received provisional registration from the state for a cultivation facility and a dispensary at 340 McArthur Blvd. in Bourne and for a dispensary at 4018 Main St. in Brewster.
Haven Center's president Christopher Taloumis hopes to open the Bourne and Brewster dispensaries in early to mid-2017, "depending on state approvals."
"We hope to be cultivating by the fourth quarter of 2016," Taloumis said.
Heatley was doubtful, pointing out her organization and Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts were part of the initial round of applications.
"Haven was part of the second round," she said. The state began to accept applications on a rolling basis beginning in mid-2015, after the first round's review process proved too cumbersome. None of those in the second round have opened their dispensaries yet.
"Haven just got awarded provisional registration and has to go through architectural review," Heatley said. "To think they would open in nine months is lunacy. It takes a really, really long time. Part is funding and part is just the process."
Construction of the registered medical marijuana cultivation facility and dispensary can only begin after the state has approved the architectural design, said Omar Cabrera, spokesman for the Department of Public Health. The organizations must also have in hand all other state and local permits required, Cabrera said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cape's Pot Dispensaries Closer To Reality
Author: Christine Legere
Contact: (508) 775-1200
Photo Credit: Merrily Cassidy
Website: Cape Cod Times
Applicants are getting close to construction of dispensaries in Mashpee, Dennis and Bourne.
The first to open will likely be on American Way in South Dennis, run by the Barnstable-based William Noyes Webster Foundation. The nonprofit organization plans to grow and process its marijuana in a $6.3 million facility in a Plymouth industrial park.
The Plymouth inspectional departments are currently reviewing a building permit application for the project, according to Paul McAuliffe, director of Plymouth's inspectional services.
The permit is expected to be issued by Friday, according to the nonprofit's president Jane Heatley.
"Callahan Construction has been hired and will begin in August," Heatley said. The massive renovation project should be completed by December or January, she said, and the building should then be ready for state inspection.
Growing, drying and processing the marijuana will take another four months.
"We plan to open in Dennis in April," Heatley said.
Heatley predicts the foundation, which was given its provisional registration by the state Department of Public Health in June 2014, will be the first to open on the Cape.
William Noyes Webster Foundation plans to open a dispensary in Dartmouth around the same time as the Dennis dispensary. It will later open in Cambridge, if all goes as planned, Heatley said.
Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts, which failed to secure provisional registration in 2014 but overturned the state's decision in court, is just a short step behind William Noyes Webster.
The organization has submitted its architectural plans for a cultivation facility and dispensary at 9 Collins Ave. in Plymouth for state review, according to Medical Marijuana president Jonathan Herlihy.
"DPH reviewed the plans and we now have to resubmit them with some minor revisions by August 12," Herlihy said.
Marijuana products from the Plymouth cultivation facility will also be sold at a dispensary being planned for Echo Road in Mashpee. "Right now we're out to bid with three different contractors for the Plymouth building and we should be clearing the land in Mashpee by sometime in August," Herlihy said. "If all goes well, we may start construction by late September."
Herlihy is optimistic in his projections, saying the company could be growing marijuana by November.
"We already have host agreements and zoning approval in Mashpee and Plymouth," he said.
While Herlihy predicts the dispensaries could be open as soon as January or February, Heatley disagrees.
"They haven't even finished their architectural review yet," she said.
McAuliffe said Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts has yet to submit a building permit request.
Meanwhile the Orleans-based Haven Center recently received provisional registration from the state for a cultivation facility and a dispensary at 340 McArthur Blvd. in Bourne and for a dispensary at 4018 Main St. in Brewster.
Haven Center's president Christopher Taloumis hopes to open the Bourne and Brewster dispensaries in early to mid-2017, "depending on state approvals."
"We hope to be cultivating by the fourth quarter of 2016," Taloumis said.
Heatley was doubtful, pointing out her organization and Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts were part of the initial round of applications.
"Haven was part of the second round," she said. The state began to accept applications on a rolling basis beginning in mid-2015, after the first round's review process proved too cumbersome. None of those in the second round have opened their dispensaries yet.
"Haven just got awarded provisional registration and has to go through architectural review," Heatley said. "To think they would open in nine months is lunacy. It takes a really, really long time. Part is funding and part is just the process."
Construction of the registered medical marijuana cultivation facility and dispensary can only begin after the state has approved the architectural design, said Omar Cabrera, spokesman for the Department of Public Health. The organizations must also have in hand all other state and local permits required, Cabrera said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cape's Pot Dispensaries Closer To Reality
Author: Christine Legere
Contact: (508) 775-1200
Photo Credit: Merrily Cassidy
Website: Cape Cod Times
