Milford Firm Among Marijuana License Applicants

With the first two recreational marijuana dispensaries opening last week in Massachusetts, several businesses have added their name to a long list of applicants awaiting licenses to get a share of the action. SIRA Naturals has entered three applications for licenses in Milford, although none of them are for selling marijuana.

With the recreational marijuana business still budding on the East Coast, there are several ways to get started without ever selling weed. The three applications in Milford are for a marijuana cultivator, product manufacturer and transporter.

SIRA Naturals is a medical marijuana company based in Massachusetts. They have medical marijuana dispensaries in Cambridge, Somerville and Needham, but no recreational dispensaries.

According to the Cannabis Control Commission, the license for marijuana cultivator would allow SIRA Naturals in Milford to grow, process and package weed in the town. That weed would then be transported to manufacturers. This type of license doesn't allow sales of marijuana directly to customers.

Milford is welcoming SIRA Naturals business into the town. Town administrator Richard Villani said, "SIRA Naturals has always been a good neighbor to us. We look forward to their business."

As a marijuana cultivator, SIRA could have a "canopy" or greenhouse in Milford with up to 100,000 square feet of pot plants. The size of the greenhouse depends on the tier the license falls into- the highest tier goes up to 100,000 square feet and the lowest goes to 5,000 square feet.

The second license is for a product manufacturer. This means that SIRA could take the marijuana plant and process it for sales and use. Manufacturers also package and deliver the finished product to pot shops.

The third license is for marijuana transporter, which would permit the company to drive the pot to retail shops. While none of the licenses are finalized and no company in Milford has made a jump for a retail license, all the moving parts are in place for the town to be a marijuana middle-man.

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