By Vicki Greene, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Things have been going smoothly since the opening of Garden Remedies, an adult-use marijuana dispensary, according to Police Chief David Giorgi. The City Council voted unanimously at its Aug. 26 meeting to accept Giorgi’s recommendation that the 60-day police detail, as stipulated in a Special Permit granted in November, come to an end.
In a letter to the council dated July 30, Giorgi stated that the Police Department has had detail officers at the site during operating hours since it opened in early June and was paid for by Garden Remedies.
“Since its opening, there have been no calls for service, no reported parking issues and very little traffic congestion as vehicles both enter and exit Route 20. Therefore, it would be my opinion that there is no need to continue the use of a Marlborough Police detail,” Giorgi wrote. “However, should the need arise in the future to have a Marlborough Police detail on site, we will work with Garden Remedies, Inc. to establish a presence.”
“I’ve gone by there, as I’m sure many of you have, and and there are no problems, it appears,” said Councilor Joseph Delano.
The City Council approved a Special Permit for Garden Remedies, Inc., to open a medical and adult-use marijuana dispensary at 416 Boston Post Road, Route 20 (Marlborough Square Shopping Center) in the fall. The state’s Cannabis Commission granted them a license for adult-use sales, but the dispensary does not yet have regulatory approval to sell for medicinal use. Medical marijuana patients can visit their Melrose or Newton locations for product.
Massachusetts voters passed the medical marijuana ballot question in 2014. In 2016, city residents voted to approve the sale of marijuana in Marlborough for adult recreational use. The city projects approximately $500,000 in annual tax revenue from the dispensary which includes local sales tax and community impact fees.