Town officials have received two applications from groups looking to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Watertown, and the Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee will discuss the issue Tuesday.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the Council Chamber in Town Hall, 143 Main St., Watertown.
The dispensaries would only be for patients with prescriptions for medical marijuana. Although one indicated that if recreational facilities were allowed to open in Watertown it would seek to also serve recreational customers.
The town has received applications for locations at 36 Arlington St. (in the building that also houses GymIt), and 23 Elm St. (in the set of stores next to the Residence Inn by Marriott and across from the Target parking lot). Before an application can move forward to be considered for approval from the town the applicant must receive a “letter of support or non-opposition.”
Typically, dispensaries and the community where it is located create a hosting agreement, which includes conditions for operating in town and often has a monetary component.
Alternative Therapies Group, the group looking at the location on Arlington Street, said the town could receive between $125,000 and $300,000 per year through the host agreement by providing a percentage of the gross revenues. The group opened the first medical marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts located in Salem. The ATG proposal calls for being open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and would employ 10-15 people. See the application here http://www.watertown-ma.gov/
NS AJO Holdings, Inc. said it would provide the town with $200,000 a year or 6 percent of the gross revenues, which ever is higher, as part of the host agreement. The application says it would see a maximum of 250 patients a day, or 3-5 an hour. (see more here http://www.watertown-ma.gov/
Also on the agenda Tuesday will be consideration of waiving supplemental fees for liquor licenses for the Mosesian Arts Center.
If I can’t attend the meeting on Tuesday – is there a vote being held or a way I can contribute to the discussion/decision as a Watertown resident?
You could contact the Town Councilors. Their contact info is here http://watertown-ma.gov/Directory/Home/DepartmentListing?DID=89