Long Road Ahead for Proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary

One thing was certain about a proposed medical marijuana dispensary on Route 1 after Tuesday’s selectmen meeting, the town is about to enter uncharted waters.

Meeting with Beacon Compassion Center, the selectmen started what is expected to be a long process for the town and company hoping to construct a dispensary on the corner of Route 1 and North Street.

“This is not going to be a speedy process. There is a lot to learn and a lot of information we need to still gather. We have to do our due diligence and research to make an informed decision,” Selectman David Feldman said. “Expect a fairly lengthy process.”

According to Beacon Compassion Center executive director Steve Angelo, the group hopes to set up shop at the site of the former gas station across from McDonalds. Run down and unoccupied for years, the current structure would be demolished and a new building would be constructed. A possibly contaminated site, Angelo said any cleanup would be paid for by the property owner.

Angelo said the building would be discrete with no flashing lights or indications that marijuana is sold on the property.

“You will not know what this facility is unless you are going there to pick up your medicine,” Angelo said.

Once open, only a customer with proper identification would be allowed into the building with a surveillance system watching the building.

Many in attendance were not swayed by the proposal, going as far to ask the selectmen to oppose the project. Many were worried about what would happen during Patriots games and the possibility of marijuana being distributed once it is out of the dispensary.

“Everyone that I have brought it up to, I’ve gotten things like ‘I’m appalled, horrified, scared, I don’t want this in our town,’” resident Rachel Calabrese said.

Angelo said the neighbors and business owners he had talk to expressed support for the project, later clarifying that he spoke with three people while at the property earlier this month.

Franklin resident Jeanne Sauro was one of the few in attendance to express support for the dispensary. A stage 3 breast cancer survivor, Sauro said she started taking the drug to help manage the pain from her treatments.

“I believe in it so much, it never killed a single person. It’s totally safe and there is such a stigma,” Sauro told the selectmen. “I encourage you to learn about this plant. We can take it out of the hands of a drug dealers and into a safe dispensary.

A dispensary opened in Salem represents the only legal medical marijuana seller in the commonwealth.

Foxborough voted to support the legalization of medical marijuana during the 2012 election. At the 2014 annual town meeting, the town approved zoning to restrict a dispensary to Route 1.

After the presentation, the selectmen chose to reserve comments until they can review documents from Beacon Compassion Center and receive guidance from town counsel.

The board will pick up the issue again at a future meeting.