By K.B. Sherman, Managing Editor
Shrewsbury – After a discussion with the manager of a proposed medical marijuana facility the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen agreed to render a Letter of Non-opposition regarding the facility at the boards Aug. 26 meeting.
John Glowik, 44 Independence Lane, the manager of the proposed Haven Center, entertained selectmen's questions about how he would go about running a 41,000 square foot medical marijuana growing facility that would be located at 28 Bowditch Drive.
Now that the voters in 2013 approved the dispensing of medical marijuana, state officials are seeking applicants for each of the commonwealth's counties to run growing and dispensing facilities. With the exceptions of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, which Glowik indicated have too small populations to make such ventures feasible, each of the other twelve counties are in the process of securing the operators for such facilities.
Glowik explained that the process for being approved by the state is a lengthy one and one in which most applicants are rejected or during which they withdraw. He said his proposed facility would begin with about 20 employees and grow to employ 40-48 by 2017. He also noted that his small fleet of delivery trucks would be registered in Shrewsbury. Glowik added that his facility would employ, aside from growers, cultivators, trimmers, and transporters, two medical consultants from the Dartmouth College of Medicine.
The board again reiterated that the facility would be for cultivation only, and that no distribution would occur in Shrewsbury, which Glowik affirmed. The facility will dispense only in and around Boston.
Selectman Maurice DePalo ended the discussion by saying that he was comfortable with the board rendering a Letter of Non-opposition because the state was to make its ?decision Aug. 29 but that had there been more time for the board to consider this request, it might have rendered a Letter of Support. The board agreed to the Letter of Non-opposition unanimously after Glowik supplied a letter reiterating his plan not to distribute marijuana in Shrewsbury.
Haven Center is owned by JCS Holdings, the Haven Center will initially operate as a non-profit business although in the future for-profit activities will be added.