Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A medical marijuana cultivation and distribution center is proposed for a 46-acre site on South Main Street.
The facility would be built and operated by Granite State Organics on property owned by Todd Fitzgerald of South Hampton.
Selectmen's Chairman Robert Donovan said his board met with Fitzgerald and three representatives of Granite State Organics on Monday night to hear their plan.
"They want to grow it, process it and dispense it," Donovan said.
Residents will be able to hear more about the proposal when Granite State Organics appears before the board at 6 p.m. Monday, Donovan said. Residents have until noon that day to email their comments to selectmen at selectmen@newtonnh.net.
Donovan was reluctant Tuesday to discuss the details prior to the group's presentation to the town.
"Residents can come and voice their concerns Monday night," he said.
He did say the five-member board is divided on whether a medical marijuana facility is appropriate for Newton. Donovan would not disclose his opinion of the facility.
"The board has questions and concerns," Donovan said. "We want to make sure everyone is safe."
Up to four medical marijuana facilities are permitted in New Hampshire under House Bill 573, signed into law by Gov. Maggie Hassan in July 2013.
New Hampshire became the 19th state in the country to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Such facilities are also legal in neighboring Massachusetts.
Fitzgerald said Tuesday he wants to receive support from selectmen before Granite State Organics applies for approval from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Granite State Organics operates in conjunction with Alternative Therapies Group, Fitzgerald said. Its proposal calls for investing $1 million to $2 million in start-up costs alone.
"They are a very ordinary group of guys who want to promote this medicinal (use) in New Hampshire," Fitzgerald said. "I'm looking to be their landlord. I look at it from an investment standpoint."
Fitzgerald is requesting "a letter of nonopposition" from the town. The South Main Street street is undeveloped, he said.
ATG was the first in Massachusetts to receive approval to cultivate medical marijuana at a site in Amesbury. It recently received approval to operate a dispensary in Salem, Mass.
In Amesbury, Mayor Ken Gray said he was impressed with ATG's management team throughout the process.
The group has received approval in Maine, where it's known as Maine Organic Therapy, according to the proposal.
Fitzgerald said he supports the use of medical marijuana to ease the pain of the chronically ill. Any community to allow such a facility would reap huge economic benefits, he said.
There are no licensed medical marijuana facilities operating in the state. The first was proposed in Epping two months ago.
State law requires those seeking to dispense marijuana to be nonprofit organizations. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to approve two applications by the end of this month, according to the law.
Patients would be allowed to have up to 2 ounces of marijuana at a time. They could obtain up to 2 ounces from a dispensary every 10 days. The state would issue ID cards to people eligible to purchase medical marijuana.
Those who qualify must have at least one of many illnesses, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS or muscular dystrophy.
ATG president Christopher Edwards could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Granite State Organics' Newton proposal says the facility would provide a "secure and community-sensitive environment" for patients.
Medical marijuana would be provided in a "safe, secure and carefully regulated manner," the group said.
Security would be provided by a local Navy veteran who has experience in counter-terrorism techniques, the group said. There would also be a state-of-the-art video surveillance system, according to the proposal.
"At every turn, we intend to form transparent working relationships with local officials, public safety personnel and community leaders," Granite State Organics wrote in its proposal. "Per our nonprofit mandate, proceeds from our activities will be appropriately reinvested into the communities we serve."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana facility proposed in Newton - Eagle-Tribune: New Hampshire
Author: Doug Ireland
Contact: direland@eagletribune.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Eagle-Tribune: News that hits home
The facility would be built and operated by Granite State Organics on property owned by Todd Fitzgerald of South Hampton.
Selectmen's Chairman Robert Donovan said his board met with Fitzgerald and three representatives of Granite State Organics on Monday night to hear their plan.
"They want to grow it, process it and dispense it," Donovan said.
Residents will be able to hear more about the proposal when Granite State Organics appears before the board at 6 p.m. Monday, Donovan said. Residents have until noon that day to email their comments to selectmen at selectmen@newtonnh.net.
Donovan was reluctant Tuesday to discuss the details prior to the group's presentation to the town.
"Residents can come and voice their concerns Monday night," he said.
He did say the five-member board is divided on whether a medical marijuana facility is appropriate for Newton. Donovan would not disclose his opinion of the facility.
"The board has questions and concerns," Donovan said. "We want to make sure everyone is safe."
Up to four medical marijuana facilities are permitted in New Hampshire under House Bill 573, signed into law by Gov. Maggie Hassan in July 2013.
New Hampshire became the 19th state in the country to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Such facilities are also legal in neighboring Massachusetts.
Fitzgerald said Tuesday he wants to receive support from selectmen before Granite State Organics applies for approval from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Granite State Organics operates in conjunction with Alternative Therapies Group, Fitzgerald said. Its proposal calls for investing $1 million to $2 million in start-up costs alone.
"They are a very ordinary group of guys who want to promote this medicinal (use) in New Hampshire," Fitzgerald said. "I'm looking to be their landlord. I look at it from an investment standpoint."
Fitzgerald is requesting "a letter of nonopposition" from the town. The South Main Street street is undeveloped, he said.
ATG was the first in Massachusetts to receive approval to cultivate medical marijuana at a site in Amesbury. It recently received approval to operate a dispensary in Salem, Mass.
In Amesbury, Mayor Ken Gray said he was impressed with ATG's management team throughout the process.
The group has received approval in Maine, where it's known as Maine Organic Therapy, according to the proposal.
Fitzgerald said he supports the use of medical marijuana to ease the pain of the chronically ill. Any community to allow such a facility would reap huge economic benefits, he said.
There are no licensed medical marijuana facilities operating in the state. The first was proposed in Epping two months ago.
State law requires those seeking to dispense marijuana to be nonprofit organizations. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to approve two applications by the end of this month, according to the law.
Patients would be allowed to have up to 2 ounces of marijuana at a time. They could obtain up to 2 ounces from a dispensary every 10 days. The state would issue ID cards to people eligible to purchase medical marijuana.
Those who qualify must have at least one of many illnesses, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS or muscular dystrophy.
ATG president Christopher Edwards could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Granite State Organics' Newton proposal says the facility would provide a "secure and community-sensitive environment" for patients.
Medical marijuana would be provided in a "safe, secure and carefully regulated manner," the group said.
Security would be provided by a local Navy veteran who has experience in counter-terrorism techniques, the group said. There would also be a state-of-the-art video surveillance system, according to the proposal.
"At every turn, we intend to form transparent working relationships with local officials, public safety personnel and community leaders," Granite State Organics wrote in its proposal. "Per our nonprofit mandate, proceeds from our activities will be appropriately reinvested into the communities we serve."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana facility proposed in Newton - Eagle-Tribune: New Hampshire
Author: Doug Ireland
Contact: direland@eagletribune.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Eagle-Tribune: News that hits home
