Fire Chief Weighs in on Proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary

MANSFIELD, MA - The support from their constituents was about 50-50 according to Selectmen Frank DelVecchio, but in the end, the selectmen gave their blessing for CommCan to continue the process to open a medical marijuana dispensary on West Street in Mansfield.

During Wednesday's meeting, Mansfield Fire Chief Neal Boldrighini told the board that he had the opportunity to tour a dispensary in Brockton. The fire chief, who said he is neutral on the issue, said he was impressed with the operation.

“It was exceptionally clean, it was sterile looking. When you came up to the building, you didn’t know what it was for,” he said. “We were surprised at the lack of material other than organic material. We were really impressed.”

The facility had 73 high definition cameras that could see every person from every angle, according to Boldrighini. Once inside and past the first identification check, customers were greeted by a security guard and processed through a metal detector before entering into a waiting room that led into a dispensary. Boldrighini compared the layout to a bank and the purchase process similar to one at a jewelry store.

The chief’s main concern was the additional amount of calls that may result from a dispensary in Mansfield.

“The problem for me is that I have potentially 30,000 sick people coming into the community. For us we see a potential in an increase of runs for a department that is truly tapped out,” he said.

Per state law, customers are not allowed to consume drugs purchased at the store on site. In addition, a medical marijuana dispensary is not allowed to sell recreational drugs if marijuana is legalized in November’s election.

Shortly after hearing from the chief, the selectmen voted 4-1 to issue a letter of support. Jess Aptowitz was the only selectman to vote no.

The letter is only the first step in the process. The applicant still needs a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, approval from the Planning Board, and for the selectmen to approve a community agreement.

If approved, the dispensary would be the first to open in Mansfield or in any of the abutting neighborhoods. A bid to build a dispensary in Foxborough ended last year when their selectmen voted to not issue a letter of support or non-opposition.