Medical marijuana dispensaries coming to Western MA?

Former Democratic Pittsfield state Sen. Andrea F. Nuciforo is one of two former state senators to file applications for nonprofit groups to operate medical marijuana dispensaries in Western Mass, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The other one is former Senate Minority Leader Brian P. Leesof East Longmeadow.

There were more than 100 applications from nonprofit groups to operate medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts.

Cheryl Bartlett, the commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said the department plans to award licenses for up to 35 dispensaries by the end of the year. The department received 100 applications throughout the Commonwealth.

“It’s a public policy issue,” Lees told The Springfield Republican.

Mr. Lees is also a former Hampden Superior Court clerk and currently clerk of a nonprofit (medical marijuanadispensary) that also includes president Heriberto Flores of Springfield, who is also president of the New England Farm Workers Council. “This is a new business opportunity to help people with serious illness.”

Nuciforo said his application lists Amherst as a proposed site for dispensary.

“We intend to run a safe, secure, compassionate and patient-centered dispensary,” said Nuciforo, who is clerk of a nonprofit that he said also includes as president Dr. Joseph P. Keenan of Westfield.

People submitting applications for the first phase on Thursday were required to produce $1,500 in nonrefundable fees and proof that the groups have $500,000 in liquid capital.

The department will either approve or reject applications by the middle of the month. If applicants pass the first phase, they have 45 days to submit bids for the second phase.

Subsequently applicants will provide site-specific proposals and will be judged on factors such as community support, appropriateness of the location and ability to meet the needs of patients. Sixty-three percent of voters last year approved a ballot question that legalized medical marijuana.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on September 5, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry