Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, suffering from multiple sclerosis, AIDS, chronic pain or other ailments will soon have access to the city’s second medical marijuana dispensary following overwhelming approval Monday by the Newton City Council.
This new clinic will be operated by Cypress Tree Management at the corner of Route 9 and Elliot Street at the site of the former Green Tea Restaurant. Cypress Tree has expressed interest in also selling recreational marijuana at the location but that will require a separate approval and could be upended by a citizen-driven ballot quesiton to ban recreational marijuana that will go before voters on Nov. 6.
*Also on Monday, the council voted to allow Garden Remedies )which has been operating a medical marijuana dispensary at 697 Washington Street for close to two years) a special permit to undergo renovations and sell recreational marijuana at their location, providing that the Opt-Out ballot vote and a subsequent council vote to ban recreational marijuana sales in Newton does not prevail.
The more I read about the increasing number of pot shops in
Newton the less I feel good about them. I oppose the expansion of the Garden Remedy parking lot. The site is inappropriate. I can
not understand how a lot can be built in a wooded ravine close to residential homes. I intend to vote for OptOut.
Congratulations to the enlightened majority on the City Council for doing the right thing. A tally as to how each Councilor voted would greatly add to this thread if somebody might provide one. It’d Be interesting to see which councilors are stuck in the Prohibitionist past when everyone agrees Newton could benefit significantly from the tax revenue that adult use cannabis would provide. Tax and limit. Don’t ban!
The vote was 19-2. Jake Auchincloss and Lenny Gentile voted No.
Congratulations should also go to Smith Costello & Crawford, the official lobbyist for Garden Remedies.
@Anatoly don’t forget to give credit to the many investors that are helping the Cypress Tree parent company, Weston Roots, LLC, raise $10M for their little “non-profit” medical store. See SEC filing for more info:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1694223/000169422317000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml
Funny, how so many throw shade at people who refer to Big Marijuana.
Opt Out has put out this survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi2vFRWE3FaKPDLOTwDu2-cLlvyGePBNh3mBjZyU2sZMv2ow/viewform?c=0&w=1
Big Pharma companies that develop and market highly addictive opioids to consumers and healthcare providers dwarf just about any industry in the country. Why is this industry not being held accountable?
The OON survey can be taken multiple times. Just an FYI.
The Opt-Out survey is a joke. Not only can it be taken by the same person as many times as time allows but no names or email addresses are required. It can be taken by anyone anywhere.
The beginning of the poll and the first question are purposely misleading.
How will you vote on the Opt Out ballot question to Ban retail recreational marijuana stores in Newton? (Medical stores and adult-use recreational will still be allowed)
Yes, I will vote to “Opt Out” of (ban) recreational marijuana stores in Newton
No, I will not vote to “Opt Out” of (ban) recreational marijuana stores in Newton
The “opinion” questions supporting the ban feed into irrational fears and make propaganda statements that the group wants to pound into the heads of voters.
“I am concerned that Newton will become a “destination city” for marijuana sales since many neighboring towns (Weston, Wellesley, Needham and Dedham) have prohibited marijuana stores.”
This list leaves out some of our closest neighbors: Boston, Waltham, Brookline and Farmington who plan to have adult-use marijuana stores.
“Recreational marijuana stores don’t fit the character of Newton.” Character can mean anything.
“Recreational marijuana stores will normalize, promote and increase marijuana use and addiction among young people.” This statement is primary to selling the ban and what the opt-out folks want voters to believe. When in reality, to young people, high school students particularly, marijuana is already normalized among their peers. Students who would like to imbibe in marijuana and students who choose not to both already know where to get it.
This statement is attempting to persuade voters that adult-use stores will “promote” marijuana use among young people. Promote is interpreted different ways. Promoting as in “marketing to” is illegal. I
There’s also some fake-looking profile advertising the poll on different Newton Facebook groups. No friends, no profile info filled out, and the picture is of a flower. If OON is trying to circulate this poll, why do they have a fake profile posting the link?
To those so concerned about the money being spent to support having marijuana adult-use retail stores in Newton by respect the vote, why shouldn’t they support legal retail businesses in Newton?
@Marti, I saw the same online poll and in addition to asking about the 5 questions you copied above, it also asked you what you thought about the 5 arguments being made by RSFN. It seemed fairly balanced to me. I’ll wait to see how it is reported on to make a final judgment on any bias (if it is published at all).
It’s not a valid poll. I took it three times to see if it would recognize me at some point and it didn’t.