Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
As New England Wellspring continues its fight to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Needham, three additional dispensaries have expressed interest in the town.
According to Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick, the William Noyes Webster Foundation, Milford Medicinals and Massachusetts Patient Foundation Inc. have recently filed applications with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and expressed an interest in Needham.
New England Wellspring has rejoined the process after winning a lawsuit against the DPH in August.
According to Fitzpatrick, all four applications are currently being reviewed by the DPH who will notify the town about next steps.
When applying, dispensaries must go through a multi-step process that starts with the DPH and works its way down to the local town level.
Applicants must first submit an Application of Intent to the DPH, after which they can be invited to submit a Management and Operations Profile.
The DPH then reviews the profile and decides whether or not to invite the applicant to submit a Siting Profile.
This is where the dispensary can list a specific location. According to Fitzpatrick, this is also when the town becomes directly involved.
If the dispensaries make it to the Siting Profile stage, they have to meet with the Needham Board of Selectmen and request a letter of support or non-opposition to be submitted to the DPH.
In August, selectmen approved a policy amendment that would allow them to submit a letter of support or non-opposition, no action or take any other action deemed fit.
According to Moe Handel, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the revision was made to create more clarity for the board, the public and the dispensaries, about the application process.
The push for a more transparent policy came separately, but at the same time as New England Wellspring’s lawsuit against the DPH. According to New England Wellspring, the DPH mishandled their original application and was unclear about the process.
At the conclusion of the lawsuit, New England Wellspring’s application was remanded back to the DPH. This could mean that New England Wellspring will go through a different process.
New England Wellspring met with the DPH on Sept. 16, at New England Wellspring’s request, to discuss their application under the old application system.
According to New England Wellspring’s Attorney, Jill Schafer, the company requested the meeting in the hopes of receiving a provisional license.
“We’re preparing for all alternatives,” said Schafer. “But we should be given a provisional license. Hopefully they agree.”
Due to the circumstances surrounding New England Wellspring’s application, the next steps are unclear. The DPH’s decision will determine if and how the application will proceed.
The DPH did not respond to the Needham Times for comment.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More medical marijuana dispensaries eye Needham - News
Author: Emma R. Murphy
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Home - Needham Times - Needham, MA
According to Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick, the William Noyes Webster Foundation, Milford Medicinals and Massachusetts Patient Foundation Inc. have recently filed applications with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and expressed an interest in Needham.
New England Wellspring has rejoined the process after winning a lawsuit against the DPH in August.
According to Fitzpatrick, all four applications are currently being reviewed by the DPH who will notify the town about next steps.
When applying, dispensaries must go through a multi-step process that starts with the DPH and works its way down to the local town level.
Applicants must first submit an Application of Intent to the DPH, after which they can be invited to submit a Management and Operations Profile.
The DPH then reviews the profile and decides whether or not to invite the applicant to submit a Siting Profile.
This is where the dispensary can list a specific location. According to Fitzpatrick, this is also when the town becomes directly involved.
If the dispensaries make it to the Siting Profile stage, they have to meet with the Needham Board of Selectmen and request a letter of support or non-opposition to be submitted to the DPH.
In August, selectmen approved a policy amendment that would allow them to submit a letter of support or non-opposition, no action or take any other action deemed fit.
According to Moe Handel, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the revision was made to create more clarity for the board, the public and the dispensaries, about the application process.
The push for a more transparent policy came separately, but at the same time as New England Wellspring’s lawsuit against the DPH. According to New England Wellspring, the DPH mishandled their original application and was unclear about the process.
At the conclusion of the lawsuit, New England Wellspring’s application was remanded back to the DPH. This could mean that New England Wellspring will go through a different process.
New England Wellspring met with the DPH on Sept. 16, at New England Wellspring’s request, to discuss their application under the old application system.
According to New England Wellspring’s Attorney, Jill Schafer, the company requested the meeting in the hopes of receiving a provisional license.
“We’re preparing for all alternatives,” said Schafer. “But we should be given a provisional license. Hopefully they agree.”
Due to the circumstances surrounding New England Wellspring’s application, the next steps are unclear. The DPH’s decision will determine if and how the application will proceed.
The DPH did not respond to the Needham Times for comment.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More medical marijuana dispensaries eye Needham - News
Author: Emma R. Murphy
Contact: Email Author
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Home - Needham Times - Needham, MA
