Massachusetts - Marijuana Cultivator Seeks Larger Site

[The General]

The William Noyes Webster Foundation is trying to find a location that will allow it grow as much marijuana as it needs to serve patients on Cape Cod and the islands. At 10,000 square feet, CEO Paul Covell says that the location his company had scouted on Great Western Road is South Dennis simply isn't big enough. "The cultivation site is the one that's under consideration because we ended up being the only facility in Barnstable County...It seems to us the cultivation site is not going to be adequate," said Covell.

According to Covell, the DPH's expectation that his company will be able to serve the islands poses another dilemma. Marijuana is still an illicit substance under federal law, making it illegal to ship it to the islands by boat or by plane. "As it stands right now the Coast Guard enforces the federal law within all navigable water of the United States regardless of the state marijuana laws," said Petty Officer Robert Simpson of the United States Coast Guard public affairs office. "We're charged with enforcing federal law."

With transport by both water and air out of the question, the only way to ensure patient access to marijuana is by establishing dispensaries on the islands. According to Health and Human Services spokesman Alec Loftus, potential dispensary operators can apply to operate in Nantucket and Dukes counties. "For the open counties the applications are due at the end of August and, we expect to announce the outcome in October," said Loftus. "Marijuana dispensaries have to comply with the law regarding patient access. In the islands we have launched an expedited process to fill open counties that do not have dispensaries."

Loftus went on the say that all applications for all eligible counties are due by the end of August, and HHS expect to announce the successful applicants by October. "We're looking at multiple things, we're looking at a second site if DPH will allow, it but it's looking like they wont," said Covell. That being the case, he's hunting for a larger facility. "We're looking at all options," location wise according to Covell. Covell said he met with representatives from the DPH on Thursday, July 31, but they still haven't reached a decision as to get the product to patients on the island.
"I can't tell you anything rock solid came out of it," said Covell. "We don't want to leave Dennis if at all possible — not with the dispensary, the dispensary is locked in and can't be moved." Covell said he understands that it's taking time to sort out the rules of a relatively new law. "They're under enormous pressure right now...it's just a really difficult thing."

News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Dennis.wickedlocal.com
Author: Caitlin Russell
Website: Marijuana cultivator seeks larger site - News - Wicked Local Dennis - Dennis, MA

 

[Radogast]

It's still a matter of guesswork how many medical mj patients are in Massachusetts.
Until the state website opens this fall, physicians and patients aren't in the system to be counted.

Unofficial websites list 14 physician locations that write recommendation letters.
Informally, the doctor who wrote my recommendation letter says he rejects 4 of 5 applicants.

10,000 sq feet of grow and storage should meet the needs of 300+ patients. Unless there one physician writing 90% of the state letters. I'd be surprised if there were 30 current recommendations for all of cape cod.

Medical marijuana MAY get big in Massachusetts, but it may not grow much larger.
10,000 sq feet of grow and storage makes more sense if one is planning for recreational marijuana in 2016.

 

[NEPharmer]

When I went to Cannamed for my recommendation, it was packed with patients, and I only saw two of them get turned down while I was there. Maybe it's different on the cape, but there are a lot of patients eagerly waiting for dispensaries to open. It seems like its taking way too long with all of the red tape.

 

[Radogast]

When I went to Cannamed for my recommendation, it was packed with patients, and I only saw two of them get turned down while I was there. Maybe it's different on the cape, but there are a lot of patients eagerly waiting for dispensaries to open. It seems like its taking way too long with all of the red tape.

Your experience was different then - good to know !

 

[NEPharmer]

I've also heard of other places that are run the same way. I'd be interested to know the total number of patients as of now. I bet there is a decent amount already. As long as you have some sort of chronic pain, or other justifiable reason, these drs will give you a card. Which is the way it should be. Now if they would just open up the damn dispensaries, we can get this thing going.