By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Representatives from PharmaCann, LLC attended the Board of Selectmen’s Oct. 23 meeting seeking an application to negotiate a Recreational Marijuana Establishment Host Community Agreement. Vice Chair Maurice DePalo presided over this agenda item since Selectman John Lebeaux recused himself.
DePalo reminded the board that Town Meeting has approved only two recreational marijuana licenses and that one has already been assigned.
Jeremy Unruh, director of regulatory affairs for PharmaCann, LLC spoke to the board to start the dialogue with the town. PharmaCann LLC has already established a dispensary in Wareham and will soon be online in Franklin. They’d like to make Shrewsbury their next site.
According to Unruh, privacy and security are paramount. Their stock is held in a secure, bank vault like setting. Customers must be 21 years of age and will need to show government-issued forms of identification which will be entered into a system for verification and screening purposes. Purchases will be tracked according to whether it is medical or recreational.
Unruh said that Shrewsbury could see a return of $356,000 in tax revenue. Once the agreement is established, they could be up and running in 180 days.
DePalo started the discussion by asking if they planned to have both recreational and medical marijuana. Unruh said the dispensary will serve both types of consumers based on their needs.
“Right now we are in this flux time where the Department of Public Health is passing the baton to the Cannabis Control Commission so our ask to you is to enter into negotiations for a Host Community Agreement Adult Use License,” Unruh explained, adding that they would like Shrewsbury to write a letter of non-opposition for a medical dispensary.
After further discussion, the board authorized the town manager’s office to begin the application for the Host Community Agreement and then, based on how that unfolds, begin work on a letter of non-opposition as requested.
