Marijuana Dispensary Takes Next Step in Arlington

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ARLINGTON, MA—Chances of Arlington being home to a medical marijuana dispensary to Arlington sharply increased Monday during the Board of Selectman's meeting.

The Arlington Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to approve a community benefit agreement with the Massachusetts Patient Foundation (MPF), which takes additional steps in the process of bringing a facility to town. According to the agreement, the proposed dispensary will share a building with Arlington Pediatrics, which is located on 5-11 Water St.

The location of the dispensary caused many residents to speak out both for and against, according to Board of Selectman administrator Marie Krepelka.

According to the agreement, MPF will pay three percent of its retail sales to Arlington, as well as a one-time payment of $100,000 within one week of opening. MPF is also required to submit annual financial records to the town, as well as any filings with the Massachusetts Department of Health.

These payments will help offset additional costs of police presence and to compensate the town for hosting the dispensary. Under the agreement, MPF is required to maintain appropriate financial data for at least seen years.

According to recent data published by ArcView Market Research, medical marijuana sales are projected to skyrocket across the country. The projections indicate that medical marijuana sales are projected to see a spike of approximately 168 percent from $8.5 billion in 2017 to $22.8 billion in 2020.

However, the location of the dispensary raised red flags to some residents. Krepelka told Patch that some residents who voted in favor of a dispensary felt differently after they found out that it would be located next to Arlington Pediatrics.

The filings now move before the DPH and the Arlington Redevelopment Board for approval.