Ellen Ishkanian’s story in the Globe Sunday about the proposed a medical marijuana dispensary on Washington Street in Newtonville, quoted a number of residents who say they have no real objection to medical marijuana, they just don’t want them to locate the facility near them.
Not only that, said opponent Kathleen Kouril Grieser …
“It’s starting to feel like Newtonville is the dumping ground for experiments in urbanization for people from wealthier parts of the city. It feels like they are trying to advance an agenda to make themselves feel good at our expense.”
And added Bob Kavanagh
“I really don’t object to this facility being here, the factor of increased crime worries me a little bit, but I just feel like we’re being dumped on here.”
Kouril Grieser and Kavanagh, of course, are referring to the clinic plus other controversial developments in their village, specifically the Austin Street and Court Street.
Are they right, is Newtonville the “dumping ground” for Newton’s richer neighborhoods?
Or is Newtonville in this position simply because it has so much potential and is really on the verge of a Renaissance?
Or perhaps, is all this focus on one village simply a cruel joke someone is playing on Aldermen Johnson, Albright and Norton?
Or is this all just a coincidence?
I make no accusations, merely an observation, that it is claimed that marijuana use can lead to paranoia.
Any snack shops on the horizon for Newtonville?
There are a few things about this whole medical marijuana business that puzzle me:
If the active ingredients in the cannabis plant have such beneficial effects, why is the pharmaceutical industry not producing them in an equivalent, conventionally-delivered form? After all, the medical uses of opiates are well-known, but no-one is suggesting that we have heroin dispensaries, are they?
But some cannabinoids are available in conventional form, such as Marinol. It appears to me that the medical marijuana laws (which, incidentally, I support) are really aimed at side-stepping FDA oversight, and undercutting the whole expensive research process that pharmaceutical companies engage in.
If society is saying that certain people are entitled to buy marijuana for medical purposes, then why are we sabotaging the whole enterprise by associating it with drug culture? What is the purpose of saying you can’t locate a dispensary within a certain distance of a school or place of worship? Why can’t you locate dispensaries anywhere you could have a Walgreens or a CVS? If it’s legal, then why can’t regular pharmacies sell medical marijuana? After all, they dispense much more potent drugs.
It seems to come down to stigma associated with marijuana, and the reality that it’s still on the borderline of being illegal. The laws are set up to perpetuate that stigma, and so it’s no surprise that neighborhood activists are yelling “Not in my back yard!”
It’s time we removed the stigma entirely.
I have more to say on this than I can sum up in one comment but I want to start with this: Since when is Newtonville a low-rent district? That’s news to me. Granted it’s been a long time since I house hunted, but I rented three different apartments in Newtonville more than 20 years ago and when we started shopping for a house, Newtonville was our preferred location. We couldn’t find anything in our preferred price range.That’s why we’re in Newton Highlands, south of Route 9.
That’s comment #1. I don’t even know how to approach the medical marijuana comments without getting emotional. People, voters passed a law legalizing medical marijuana. I’m tired of reading comments from people who say that they aren’t opposed to it but they don’t want it in their neighborhood. I’m sorry but that’s bullsh*t. Do you object to pharmacies in your neighborhood too? I invite every one of you to spend some time with a young person with Crohn’s disease, and listen to that person groan with pain every friggin’ time s/he eats. Have you ever met anyone with Crohn’s? The common refrain is: “It hurts when I eat.” I invite you all to watch a child spend weeks in the hospital, on a feeding tube, or watch a kid drop 30 pounds in a month. Then tell me about your poor neighborhood getting “dumped on” because a medical marijuana dispensary wants a license to operate in a legally zoned location.
I know I’m coming on hard here and I apologize if I seem to be picking on the people who had the courage to say what was on their minds. That’s not my intention. For personal reasons mentioned here, and others, I don’t have what it takes to restrain my words right now. I’m really frustrated by what I’m seeing taking place in this city right now. I don’t like the word “NIMBY” because it implies a selfishness that belies people’s true fears, but I don’t understand the fear of change that seems to permeate everything that’s going on. It makes me wonder whether there’s a lack of will on the Board of Aldermen, a lack of leadership with the mayor, or a cultural sense of entitlement with the younger generation of homeowners. Somebody needs to call people on this instead of dancing around and protecting people’s families.
@Gail: Thank you for saying what needed to be said. I will be disappointed if even one of our aldermen are swayed by this nonsense and vote against this special permit. This is a legal business that was approved by Massachusetts and Newton voters by a large margin. By all accounts, Garden Remedies is taking every precaution to insure the safety and well being of their patrons and their medicine.
Oh and one more thing: Can we all agree that 697 Washington Street is in Newtonville in the same way that Needham Street is in Newton Highlands. This is a commercial throughway. The clinic will be located in a secure, properly lit, building with other medical offices. This is an ideal location for this medical practice and its patients.
Gail, don’t mistake a very vocal minority with the community fearing change. The idea that Newtonville is under siege is rather silly. We’ve got a great rehab of Walnut street coming up, our village center is home to a great mix of shops these days (yes I know the common complaint about nail salons/banks, but it really is a cool village), and once Austin Street happens maybe we’ll have some extra funds to spruce up things a bit. Beautiful Newtonville just installed some nice planters all along Washington Street, we’ve got an area counsel now, and the new high school turned out great (expensive yes, but in the end having fields on both sides really makes it look nice).
Austin Street is different than the dispensary in my view. But I think both will happen, and Newtonville will be better for it. As for a fear about crime, did anyone actually read the proposal?
I’d never vote for an Alderman who voted against a medical dispensary. This has nothing whatsoever to do with illegal drugs and has everything to do with relieving the pain of very sick people. Put it in my village – in either Waban or Four Corners – but get it up and running ASAP.
Greg — Youre right, it don’t look at all like Newtonville. Kind of looks like Brookline (your link)
@Hoss: Ha. Linked fixed, I think, thanks. Even Google is apparently part of this evil conspiracy to urbanize Newtonville. Here’s a direct look…
This is all a joke. Forget the medical dispensaries. Legalize it. I’ve never used marijuana and probably never will, but, for the life of me, I don’t see why they don’t just legalize it, regulate it and get a lot of tax revenue in the process. We still have draconian laws on the books because of the lurid “educational” films that were put out from 1930 to the mid 50’s which depicted marijuana users as “Dope Fiends” and violent, totally immoral people. This was as much a campaign that built on people’s fears as those old “Nightmare in Red” films that had Communists hiding under our beds and subverting all of our institutions. There are people who have served long jail sentences simply for using the stuff and there’s one young guy in Texas facing a life sentence because he cooked up a batch of brownies with marijuana. A lot of our leaders know this is all rubbish, but they are too timid to do anything about it.
I’m with mike Striar on this one. I don’t want any political, corporate or religious leader telling me I can’t use marijuana if, God forbid, I came down with a painful case of cancer and there was a chance it would relieve that pain and give me some peace of mind. I wish it had been there as an option for my mom and for many close friends who died painful cancer deaths. I know a lot of them would have opted not to use it and for various reasons I don’t think I would either; but it should have been their decision just like it should be mine.
And no, I’m not in favor of young people using marijuana or any other mind altering substance including alcohol, but some of them have told me quite bluntly that it is easier to obtain illegal marijuana than it is to obtain legal alcohol. I believe them.
Yes Jane Put it in Waban. Garden Remedies should have bought that building on Beacon St that was going to be housing for the previously Homeless.
Jane why dont you help them find a nice spot for it in Waban and have the Garden Remedy’s move there. And lets see if that works without any concerns from your Waban neighbors.
And Robert – It is my understanding it cannot go into Pharmacy’s because on the Federal Level Marijuana is still illegal and therefore cannot be sold in Pharmacies.
I don’t understand why there is a better location for the dispensary. The idea of it being under a mile from a high school, a middle school and two elementary schools and a mile and a half from a second middle school that just seems to be a bad idea. Wouldn’t it be better suited to for a more commercial district?
Putting aside the merits/liabilities of the Newtonville location, it’s a bit disingenuous to claim that these “medical” marijuana dispensaries are performing some heroic service to the community and humanity.
The voters were snookered into approving them, sure, but as is the case with many other ballot initiatives in this state, we’re talking about a well-protected racket that was hokeyed up by a small group of deep-pocketed, politically-connected people (including former congressmen) who will make moocho moola once these places open.
Meanwhile the sucker voters (both left and right) have been led to believe that they’re supporting some greater ideals in the form of “compassion,” “job creation,” “personal liberty,” etc. The same way that casino gambling is supposedly about “job creation” rather than enriching a handful of billionaires and the politicians that will go on to “consult” for them.
I’m all for the legalization of marijuana, I’m all for making it WIDELY available, but it’s infuriating to see how (as usual in this great democracy of ours) a small group of well-connected, deep-pocketed oligopolists can manipulate the discussion. In the case of the dispensaries, it’s all about creating an extremely lucrative profit opportunity for a handful of people and protecting that market with barriers to entry.
That said, I long ago wrote off that part of Washington Street as a life-endangering, pedestrian-hating, asphalt wasteland, so it’s as good a place as any in my book! Heads-up to the city’s traffic planners, though – you’re going to have a huge surge in 17-year-old, newly-licensed drivers trying to make left turns across Washington Street. Good luck with that!
Michael: Heads up, reading the freaking proposal. The idea that 17 year olds are going to be making illegal left turns to get to this business is just inaccurate.
Also, the idea that the proximity to schools should be the deciding factor doesn’t make any sense. Should be ban Marty’s? How many liquor stores or cigerrette shops are within a short walk from Newton North? Cabot? Day? I know, let’s close them all, because we all know that booze and cigs have been far more deadly to the average high school student that pot.
This location looks good to me. Newton Centre would have made sense, as would near Newton Wellsley.
@FNV: Oh, I never said that the left turns would be illegal. Just dangerous!
Joanne – We have places in the Four Corners area (close to my home) that would be suitable for a dispensary. Do you not understand that medical marijuana relieves pain for chronically and terminally ill people? As for my neighbors, I don’t really know what they think – sorry, but I’m a bit old to care about such things. In fact, I’m in the age range of people for whom life too often throws a curve ball, and the comfort and well being of these people are a much greater concern to me.
@FNV – Thanks to your suggestion; I’ve now read the “freaking” proposal. You’re right, at $350 an ounce, there probably aren’t very many 17-year-olds stupid enough to procure their weed from Dr. Munkacy’s establishment. What a racket! How can I get a cut of this action???
Can we stipulate that the folks availing themselves of the dispensary will be those with a medical need, and not pot heads/dope fiends/[insert your favorite term from Reefer Madness here]?
This being the case, I would be completely happy to have one in my neighborhood. The site of Engine 6, near the Newton Wellesley, would have been just fine with me.
What Robert and Jane said.
And in an effort to turn down the hysteria and rash of left turns, please note:
1. The clinic will be open by appointment only.
2. Patients will need a doctors prescription
3. They will also need a state issued id
4. There will be security cameras, lights outside etc.
5. And the police are just down the street.
I am with Gail on this, here here! Newtonville is ideally positioned to actually absorb these developments for a variety of reasons. As a neighbor, this will be fine. It will all be fine. If somebody said they wanted to put in a PVC processing plant, ok I would be very much up in arms etc. that would not belong. More housing (even if a bit denser than most of the area, though the housing at the corner of Lowell is pretty dense too) is fine, more commercial is fine, a MM dispensary will also fine once things are running and kinks worked out. This is not going to be a junky hangout etc. planing and design will prevent that. I also guarantee that police will be keeping a peeled eyeball on the spot to reduce any potential risk of somebody being followed and then robbed down the road. It is outside the recommended buffer zones by the Department of Public Health and makes sense here. There are other spots it could have worked too even along Washington, but this is as good a spot as any I think.
Communities need to change, some slower or faster than others, some parts more than others but it will happen. It is never a done deal and if a project is truly bad there will be consensus as such, and in this day and age an opportunity to truly stop it. None of these projects have that consensus (save Court, which does seem a bit much…, but with robust TDM measures will also be fine)
I’m with Jane. Put it here in Waban or Four Corners if everyone is in a tizzy in Newtonville. We have liquor stores and pharmacies here so no biggie.
Kim and Jane – Find a few locations in Waban – I am sure Garden Remedies will be happy to consider it. My gut tells me that there isn’t any open locations in Waban but I am sure you will let us and them know of any.
And Four Corners – really isn’t a Waban location. I am thinking something in Waban Square.
Any Realtors out there – I am sure you can help them too!
Joanne – The placement of this dispensary is your issue, so feel free to contact a realtor and ask for alternate locations. If it’s near my home, it’s of no concern to me whatsoever. Four Corners is closer to me, but if you’d prefer Waban village, go at it and you’ll certainly have my backing. There’s a Hammond Realty in the village you can contact.
What concerns me in this discussion is the total lack of concern for terminally and chronically ill people who need MM to manage their pain. I have copied and pasted from Greg’s post:
1. The clinic will be open by appointment only.
2. Patients will need a doctor’s prescription
3. They will also need a state issued ID
4. There will be security cameras, lights outside etc.
One interesting detail about the whole medical marijuana system being put in place is the price. I’d love to see more detailed breakdown about the economics.
In general agriculture terms, pot is relatively easy to grow and unlike many other crops, the majority of the plant material ends up being sell’able product, unlike say wheat.
The sale price to the consumer is going to be $350/ounce. I’m sure that the big costs for the marijuana in this system are not the physical growing of the plant. Unlike tomatoes for example, there’s all kinds of cost associated with the regulatory, and security regimens around medical marijuana distribution.
Still, $350/ounce?
Jerry Reilly — The state intentionally set the price at the street level so there isn’t a reason to apply for medical pot and resell it. Part of the economics is that each dispensary pays a very high annual fee to the state. Isn’t there also a proposal to add a sales tax? But you’re right, unless we are prepared to somehow subsidize the price for low/no income individuals (through Medicaid, for example) than supplying medical relief for higher income individuals only is a odd why to do it.
What Jane said although I continue to believe in full legalization.
I’m in favor of medical marijuana dispensaries, but what concerns me is that Congress has yet to repeal laws which criminalize the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. I understand that the head of the DEA is at odds with Attorney General Eric Holder over enforcement and that marijuana is still classified as a schedule I drug (along side heroin and crack). The feds seem to be looking the other direction right now, but turning a blind eye is certainly not the same as formal repeal of federal criminal law which takes precedence over conflicting state law.
Let’s admit it — this current scheme is serving people we intended to serve, but it is also free for all defacto legalization. There is an outfit in Burlington that was featured on NPR last year where this wink-wink “prescription” process is already in action. I think most of us envisioned a cancer patient or similar condition that affected eating and comfort when we voted for this. The way things apparently work in the field is that a “patient” contacts an outfit like the one in Burlington, gets the required medical evaluation through them, and then they are given the certificate to purchase (a “prescription” which is not really a prescription). For the medical evaluation, it can be done remotely, through Skype, for example. You can say you’re using marijuana to control something like panic attacks, you’ve never told a doctor about it, and the evaluator can approve you based on this.
Do I care? Not really. It’s a shift of the pot economy from streets to business. It does take some effort and expense to get the certification to buy, it’s not a casual thing. But I do care that gov’t is playing along with this “prescription” process. How many of us voting that ballot question thought this would be the case?
@Jerry: I believe Hoss is correct about the benefits of keeping the price similar to the street value. But my understanding is the medical marijuana is grown to specific standards at potentialities tailored to patient needs (which can vary from patient to patient). That’s not something one can do growing it on their own.
@Joanne: Shame on you or any one else who is trying to turn this into a competition among villages when there are patients who could benefit from treatment right now.
697 Washington Street has already be zoned for this. There is no reason why they should be asked to look elsewhere or face any delay in getting this clinic for providing a service that voters approved, will be carefully regulated and — need I say it again — CAN HELP PEOPLE.
Greg — There are two ways to procure this product legally — buy it in a state run store, or grow it yourself. It’s just pot, not a pot mix where some dosage is controlled. The limiting factor as a cultivated crop is that you need to deal w the challenges of growing in Massachusetts (requiring greenhouses, etc)
Robert: One big problem has been that since marijuana is illegal, it’s very difficult to do any research on it or its components.
That said, I believe that the pharmaceutical industry has tried, but not yet successfully, to synthesize drugs based on the ingredients in marijuana. The impression I have (read this years ago, so I may not be remembering correctly) is that it seems to be a combination of components working together, not just the THC. Also, I’m not sure if THC on it’s own is legal, either.
mgwa – In terms of delivering the effects in a smoke free way, the new smokeless cigarettes are being used to “vape” pot. We need to deal with that. If the intent of us voters was to give very sick people relief, smoking in a hospital, nursing home, hospice or other similar building is not allowed and therefor a fail on that idea. We should let them use it in a smokeless way too
The price of $350 per ounce is to ensure big profits for the lucky ducks who get the licenses. I’m sure former congressman Bill Delahunt is getting quite a chuckle watching the debate over how important it is to keep the profit margin at 2500% in order to prevent the weed from “falling into the wrong hands.” Yes, the very same Bill who was miraculously awarded three licenses, allowing him to gross what he projects will be $49 million over the first three years.
I’m sure Bill also gets a charge out of the “rigorous oversight framework” that his buddies on Beacon Hill came up with in order to prevent the licenses themselves from “falling into the wrong hands.”
In the case of Washington St., I suggest reading a physician’s op-ed piece in the Globe entitled “Compassionate choice is for ‘safe and legal access’ to marijuana.” It was published just before the 2012 referendum; it was very well-written, and tough to argue with.
But unless I’m wildly mistaken, it seems as though that same scrupulous physician is the one now proposing a multimillion dollar dispensary for herself and some other charming investors! It seems as though the “compassion” that we really needed was compassion toward multimillion-dollar profit opportunities.
(NB In case anyone tries to sue me, I’m writing this from Almaty, Kazakhstan so I think you’ll have to get a writ over here.)
@Micheal: Your discomfort with capitalism aside, are you denying that medical marijuana can and has been helpful to individuals with cancer and other conditions?
Michael — I think you went past it when you took the left on Washington. Kazakhstan? Maybe roll down your window and see if anyone knows the way to Cabots
@Hoss – Almaty is a really nice place actually! I got here on Monday and I’m amazed.
@Greg – No, I’m a big proponent of legalizing marijuana, on compassionate grounds as well as practical grounds. And I have no discomfort with capitalism. But I do have discomfort with a legislative framework that was clearly set up at the behest of a handful of people who saw a huge profit opportunity. I can’t help but feel that the people of the Commonwealth were really fleeced on this one. Going back to read Dr. Munkacy’s 2012 op-ed piece in favor of legalizing marijuana, knowing that now she will make millions from selling the stuff over on Washington St., is pretty upsetting, wouldn’t you agree?
Actually I have no problem when local businesses prosper, providing their services are legal and respectful of the environment and community. And I felt that way long before I took on my day job.
Hoss – you can already use it in a smokeless way. Haven’t you ever heard of brownies?
@Greg –
And prosper Dr. Munkacy will, with her $16 million in revenue protected by an act of the Massachusetts legislature. No hard work or innovation required; just sit back and relax as the Benjamins roll in. No need to worry when the number of licenses will never exceed 35 (and a former DA/congressman already got three of them).
Anyway let’s be honest: I’m just bitter that I didn’t get a cut of this. A few grand could have gotten me some ears in the legislature, and then I could have agreed to split the proceeds with some “management” company with “applicable experience” out in Colorado or some other stoner state. If only I could turn back time! I would have bought a couple of those waterfront parking lots in South Boston for a song, too.
A few grand in legal campaign donations, I meant.
Greg – Curious, why parade capitalism here and not when Shaw’s was trying to get a wine license that when they already paid for three in Massachusetts? Why did the local capitalist attend the BoA meeting and suggest specific damage to local business yet you as part of the capitalist dynamics support it opposing those businesses? Is Wegmans Newton’s preferred capitalist du jure, and is local small business just out of touch with the economics of higher density zones?
I think capitalism is highly a good notion and your opinion about the Austin St project is hightly the right notion…. Just askin why you are so vocal on this one
@Hoss: Perhaps your memory is better than mine but I don’t recall saying I opposed to Shaws selling wine. And although I’ve read it several times, I’m not sure what point the rest of your comment is trying to make.
My point about capitalism was based on my wondering if Michael was against the clinic because the operator (who is taking the risk and investing considerable start up costs) would actually earn a living from these efforts. I was glad that he clarified that he still supports this.
This is EXACTLY the situation I predicted when the Board of Aldermen voted to force dispensaries to obtain a Special Permit. Every member of the Board should be ashamed of themselves for that vote. They gave every ignoramus and anti-marijuana zealot in town the opportunity to stop sick and dying people from obtaining the only source of relief and comfort available to them. It’s an absolute disgrace!!!
Reading some of the idiotic comments on here makes me want to vomit. People like “Michael,” who knows absolutely nothing about marijuana, medical marijuana, or the financial dynamics of medical marijuana dispensaries, feels entitled to spew complete nonsense, even questioning the motives and impugning the integrity of caregivers. Comments like his are infuriating.
Our government’s ignorance and incompetence at all levels is beyond astounding when it comes to marijuana. Martha Coakley empowered every local-yocal politician to block medical marijuana dispensaries with moratoriums. Joe Kennedy voted against access to medical marijuana for veterans. Our Aldermen voted for a moratorium on dispensaries and onerous zoning regulations. And Mayor Warren has shown absolutely no leadership whatsoever on this issue. They are all defying the clear will of Massachusetts citizens who voted overwhelmingly in favor of medical marijuana more than a year and a half ago.
Frankly, I’ve had it, and it’s time someone showed a bit of leadership here…
PUBLIC NOTICE: If you live in Newton, are an eligible patient with a doctor’s prescription, and are unable to obtain medical marijuana, please call me on my home phone, 617-332-7645. I will assist you in finding a caregiver who will help you obtain medical marijuana.
Greg – Fair enough. Has the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce expressed an opinion on Austin Street (Newton parking lot development)? I’m asking because the Chamber is mentioned with regard to your opinion and that you are asking for full disclosure on the opposition. (Some years ago I was involved in a community dispute (not in Newton) and I know the challenges of the locals. It’s just a disclosure question)
@Hoss: The Chamber Board of Directors has not weighed in on Austin Street because there is not a specific proposal to weigh in on yet. Once there is a specific design, parking and traffic plan, and a plan for parking during construction, the board would likely vote on it. Prior to that, we expect to be fully engaged in the conversations everyone agrees are needed to discuss what’s best for the village and the city.
However, to say that I’m asking for “full disclosure on the opposition” isn’t correct. I am saying Newton Villages Alliance should disclose who its steering committee is and that those individuals should be willing to step forward and clarify their positions.
I also don’t view NVA or anyone else in Newton as my “opposition” or the chamber’s “opposition”. I agree with some of their positions. I disagree with others. We’re all just citizens living and/or working in the same city. And it’s all driven by what we think is best.
But I fully disagree with the decision to be secretive.
Greg – Thanks
Michael — Keep in touch friend. Left!
What Greg said about NVA. I agree with a number of their positions and have been clear that IMO,developers are doing serious damage to the socio-economic mix in the city. However, I cannot support a group who won’t disclose who’s on the steering committee, or when and where they meet. For all anyone knows, the driving force behind this group is a position on an unnamed project.
Transparency is key to starting up any new group and for whatever reason, this group can’t seem to do it. And don’t talk to me about tires, keyed cars, threats, etc. Been there, done that. You call the police about such matters. While I’m all for letting people know the specifics of when you’ve been threatened for engaging in political activity (out the creeps, for goodness sakes), it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to avoid going public.
Pls document any aspect of Newton governance being targeted with cars keyed or tires slashed. The paranoia of scratches cars or car sidewalls being damaged in NEWTON MASSACHUSETTS makes no sense to tag onto local residents. Come on now. Really.
I mean this utterly seriously, has anyone in Newton made a claim that locals slashed any tire or keyed any car out on anger about how Newton’s governance works?
This is how local governance gets shut to us locals — we had a case where an alderman said no one will challenge him so why not run for two positions, and we have other cases where people of Newton talk of Newton’s rebel savages, ready to slash away at tires and car paint. Nonsense. This is a proud, vocal, intelligent community — we will not be waived. Cripes sakes
@ Mike Striar – I agree with all of your post, except the part directed against me. Sorry that I infuriate you and make you want to vomit!
If you’re so upset with my ignorant comments then you evidently support the cap of 35 dispensaries for the entire state? That’s the only thing I’m arguing against here. I think that there should be NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF DISPENSARIES and it should be widely available and affordable in every community, provided by artisans and millionaires alike.
@Michael” And I agree with what Mike Striar said, including the part about you (minus the vomit). I’m glad you are clarifying your position now because it seems to me that the number of dispensaries was far from the only thing you were “arguing against.” Thanks for making that clear.
There’s a time to advocate for an expansion of the law and a time to get some clinics open to help people now. Right now the focus should be on insisting that the board approves this legal business without delay.
@Greg – You’ll have to enlighten me on the other things that I was arguing against.
1) I support the free availability of marijuana and I voted yes on question 3.
2) I don’t support the cap on the number of dispensaries and I don’t support the accompanying “rigorous oversight framework” that the Massachusetts legislature claimed was necessary to protect us all from evil.
3) In fact the cap and the oversight framework served only to protect a limited number of multimillion-dollar market opportunities ($16 million over three years) for a handful of politically connected people such as the former DA/congressman who got three licenses, and the privileged physician who wrote a marvelous, emotional piece in support of legalization (which I wholeheartedly agreed with at the time) and then turned around and applied for one of the licenses herself. Let’s not pretend that this whole thing was about anything more than profits.
At any rate, I’m confused as to the urgency of this endeavor – marijuana has been readily available and affordable throughout the greater Boston area for as long as I’ve been alive. And that’s the way it should be.
If there’s going to be a cap on the number of dispensaries, then they should not be run by privileged millionaires – they should be run by nonprofit organizations. But my own preference is that there be no cap on the number of dispensaries.
@Michael: The “urgency” is based on the fact that that voters approved this by a large margin in 2012. Meanwhile, people continue to suffer, including, I’m sure, many who aren’t comfortable purchasing illegally. It’s time to give voters what they asked for and patients a legal, safe, controlled place to get the help they need.
And, since you asked, you seem to spend a lot of time “arguing against” the approved license holder, not because she isn’t qualified but because you’ve decided she’s not worthy of seeing a return on her investment. Who are you to decide who is allowed to make money and who isn’t? Besides, if I’m not mistaken, Garden Remedies, is a non-profit.
Open only by appointment to a small number of carefully vetted clients? Sounds like the perfect business to abut a residential neighborhood. I’d gladly trade it for one or all of my commercial neighbors who have deliveries made and Dumpsters emptied at six a.m.
@Greg – I have no issue with Garden Remedies. I agree with Michael though that this isn’t an issue of pro vs anti-capitalism or business. Medical marijuana distribution is a strange beast – i.e. a government chartered mini-monopoly. So whether you like the system or not it doesn’t have too much to do with normal business. I’m guessing that it’s that aspect that makes Michael and others leery of the whole system.
For better or worse that’s how it’s going to be done here in MA so let’s get on with it.
@Amanda. I’m in your neighborhood at a little past 5 AM four mornings a week and stop at Starbucks on my way to the Y. The trash collection trucks for a lot of the stores on Center Street are there closer to 5 than 6.
@ Greg – When you ask “Who are you to decide who is allowed to make money and who isn’t?”, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I shouldn’t be allowed to make that decision. And neither should public health commissioner (and political appointee) Cheryl Bartlett.
My argument here is against the cap and accompanying oversight framework which decides in a God-like (or perhaps more appropriately, Santa Claus-like) fashion who is going to make many millions of dollars and who isn’t.
To that end, Jerry has eloquently characterized my leeriness, which is toward a government-chartered oligopoly.
Joan Vennochi was spot-on when she wrote about Bill Delahunt, who by his own estimations stands to make $49 million over three years:
“Cheryl Bartlett, the state public health commissioner whose agency picked the lucky 20 applicants who won licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries, previously held fund-raisers for Delahunt and attended charity events with him. As the Globe reported, it wasn’t until the final weeks of application review that Bartlett disclosed her longtime political association with Delahunt. At the last minute, Bartlett delegated the licensing choice to her deputy, who awarded three licenses to Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts, the nonprofit company founded by Delahunt.”
Not to mention the irony that Delahunt sent plenty of people to jail for marijuana offenses when he was Norfolk County DA, and will now make millions from selling the stuff.
Where is the outrage when something like this happens? Am I the only one who’s concerned when the people of Massachusetts are being snookered?
@Michael thanks for explaining your position.
Karla wrote:
@Karla: I’m assuming you meant to write that you don’t understand why there isn’t a better location for the dispensary. Ignoring that Karen Munkacy of Garden Remedies says this is the only location she could find, I’d like to throw this question back to you: Why does there need to be a better location? This particular one meets the zoning requirements.
I love the comments about it not being enough of a commercial district or schools being too close or fear of crime. Cripes, there’s an alcohol dispensary nearby called Marty’s. You know, that big store where many adults spend hundreds of dollars on drugs to legally anesthetize themselves, without a prescription.
I’m personally more interested as to why a PetSmart is needed not a half a mile away from a Petco (Needham St / Highland Ave) than I am about the Marijuana Dispensary in Newtonville. I can only image how outraged Puritans were when liquor stores came into their neighborhoods…
If it’s legal, and they are a legitimate business, then let them be! And let’s circle back to this when – not if – they are truly causing a problem. I’m curious to see how it all plays out.
In the meantime, I’ll continue longing for the days of Filene’s Basement and sneeze whenever I see a cat at PetSmart. Wait, do allergies qualify as a need for medical marijuana treatment?
The Washington St. location would be good, but locating it in the old Newbury Comics location on Needham St. would be wicked good!
That would rock!
On a different, related note, the DEA is cracking down on doctors associated with the dispensaries:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/05/drug-enforcement-administration-targets-doctors-associated-with-medical-marijuana-dispensaries-physicians-say/PHsP0zRlaxXwnDazsohIOL/story.html
@MGWA, I saw this article and it underscores the point I was trying to make a couple of days ago: if distributing marijuana is a crime under Federal law then it is illegal. Individuals who engage in that activity do so at their peril. There has to be an alignment between federal and state laws for this to succeed.
Lisap – The front page story on the Boston Globe this morning is about the federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents visiting MA doctors who are connected with marijuana dispensaries. The doctors are being told “you either give up your DEA license or give up your position on the [dispensary] board or you challenge it in court”. The DEA license is important since it is required for any doctor who wishes to be able proscribe a range of narcotics and other controlled substance.
The article says that the US House of Representative approved a bill last week that would prevent the DEA from raiding marijuana dispensaries but it hasn’t been taken up by the senate.
So yes, until the Federal law comes to grips with all of this, the legal situation is still going to be quite murky.
@Jerry,
Pretty sneaky, huh? And not to be too cynical, but I don’t believe that the bill makes any mention of cutting the budget of the Dept. of Justice and the FBI which also enforce the federal criminal drug laws.