Robert Celt
New Member
As medical marijuana centers trawl for places to set up shop, interest in North Attleboro is budding.
Over the past month, three marijuana operations have told Town Planner Nancy Runkle they're eyeing dispensaries in North Attleboro.
The town appeals to the marijuana outfits because its proximity to highways allows convenient access for patients. Plus, so far no dispensaries have been approved nearby.
Although they're not yet up and running, the closest dispensaries would be in Taunton and Brockton.
"Just geographically, there's a need for it in that area," said Rina Cametti, president of Beacon Compassion Center, one of the groups to express interest.
The Walpole-based nonprofit dropped a bid for a dispensary in Foxboro last year after selectmen in that town took no action on the proposal, effectively blocking it.
Also thinking of North Attleboro are Health Circle of Hingham and CommCan of Millis.
Health Circle and Beacon Compassion Center reached out to the town on consecutive days in January, while CommCan left a message with the town planner this past Tuesday.
All three, still in the earliest stages, would have a long, tough road ahead if they proceed.
A North Attleboro zoning by-law approved by Representative Town Meeting in 2014 allows medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers with a special permit in industrial areas of at least 60,000 square feet.
That leaves only a few potential locations, such as spots in the industrial park and Plain Street.
However, the by-law also requires a 500-foot buffer from any residence, school, church, gymnasium, or "other area that children congregate."
One congregation's planned move could rule out some vacant spaces in the industrial park. The non-denominational Waters Church, already located in the park, last year purchased the former Leach & Garner building, which would put it within the buffer zone.
If no feasible locations remain, the marijuana groups would need the town to change its zoning by-law through RTM.
Runkle said she is also looking into whether the by-law requires applicants to run their marijuana growing operation out of their North Attleboro location. The by-law specifically refers to "Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Centers."
State law requires medical marijuana outfits to have a cultivation center, but they can set up dispensary-only outposts in other locations.
CommCan and Beacon Compassion Center intend their prospective setups in North Attleboro to be dispensaries only.
The question of marijuana dispensaries is largely untrodden ground, Runkle said.
"Ten years ago, who ever would have thought we'd be talking about this," Runkle said. "I'm still sort of in amazement."
Cametti, the Beacon Compassion Center president, and CommCan CEO Marc Rosenfeld both estimated that they would bring 10 to 15 jobs to North Attleboro if they were able to open their dispensaries. Plus, they said the town would benefit from host-town agreements.
Valerio Romano, an attorney for Health Circle, did not return a call from The Sun Chronicle Wednesday.
Selectmen Chairman Paul Belham, who in the past expressed skepticism that any dispensary would come to a town the size of North Attleboro, said he suspects the groups are considering a wide array of towns.
"They're throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks," Belham said. "If they can find a place that can take them, then they'll go there."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Eyeing North Attleboro, MA
Author: Andrew Doerfler
Contact: The Sun Chronicle
Photo Credit: Gosia Wozniacka
Website: The Sun Chronicle
Over the past month, three marijuana operations have told Town Planner Nancy Runkle they're eyeing dispensaries in North Attleboro.
The town appeals to the marijuana outfits because its proximity to highways allows convenient access for patients. Plus, so far no dispensaries have been approved nearby.
Although they're not yet up and running, the closest dispensaries would be in Taunton and Brockton.
"Just geographically, there's a need for it in that area," said Rina Cametti, president of Beacon Compassion Center, one of the groups to express interest.
The Walpole-based nonprofit dropped a bid for a dispensary in Foxboro last year after selectmen in that town took no action on the proposal, effectively blocking it.
Also thinking of North Attleboro are Health Circle of Hingham and CommCan of Millis.
Health Circle and Beacon Compassion Center reached out to the town on consecutive days in January, while CommCan left a message with the town planner this past Tuesday.
All three, still in the earliest stages, would have a long, tough road ahead if they proceed.
A North Attleboro zoning by-law approved by Representative Town Meeting in 2014 allows medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers with a special permit in industrial areas of at least 60,000 square feet.
That leaves only a few potential locations, such as spots in the industrial park and Plain Street.
However, the by-law also requires a 500-foot buffer from any residence, school, church, gymnasium, or "other area that children congregate."
One congregation's planned move could rule out some vacant spaces in the industrial park. The non-denominational Waters Church, already located in the park, last year purchased the former Leach & Garner building, which would put it within the buffer zone.
If no feasible locations remain, the marijuana groups would need the town to change its zoning by-law through RTM.
Runkle said she is also looking into whether the by-law requires applicants to run their marijuana growing operation out of their North Attleboro location. The by-law specifically refers to "Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation Centers."
State law requires medical marijuana outfits to have a cultivation center, but they can set up dispensary-only outposts in other locations.
CommCan and Beacon Compassion Center intend their prospective setups in North Attleboro to be dispensaries only.
The question of marijuana dispensaries is largely untrodden ground, Runkle said.
"Ten years ago, who ever would have thought we'd be talking about this," Runkle said. "I'm still sort of in amazement."
Cametti, the Beacon Compassion Center president, and CommCan CEO Marc Rosenfeld both estimated that they would bring 10 to 15 jobs to North Attleboro if they were able to open their dispensaries. Plus, they said the town would benefit from host-town agreements.
Valerio Romano, an attorney for Health Circle, did not return a call from The Sun Chronicle Wednesday.
Selectmen Chairman Paul Belham, who in the past expressed skepticism that any dispensary would come to a town the size of North Attleboro, said he suspects the groups are considering a wide array of towns.
"They're throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks," Belham said. "If they can find a place that can take them, then they'll go there."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Eyeing North Attleboro, MA
Author: Andrew Doerfler
Contact: The Sun Chronicle
Photo Credit: Gosia Wozniacka
Website: The Sun Chronicle
