Medical marijuana to be grown in South Hadley

A vote earlier this month by the South Hadley Planning Board has approved the cultivation and production of medical marijuana in town.

The town had also sought a permit to distribute marijuana, but that permit was not granted by the state. As a result, the medical marijuana grown in town will be sold at the two non-profit dispensaries licensed in Western Massachusetts, one being in nearby Holyoke and the other in Northampton.

On last year’s ballot, Massachusetts voters were in support of legalizing medical marijuana. According to Masslive.com, South Hadley Police Chief David LaBrie said at a Town Meeting that although he and much of the law enforcement community opposed the November 2012 ballot question about legalizing the regulated use of medical marijuana, it now is the “law of the land.” The South Hadley Planning Board decided that the town will have a growing and cultivation spot for medical marijuana. It would belocatedat the old Intelicoat and Rexam Graphics facility on Gaylord Street.

This August, the Northampton medical marijuana dispensary run by the New England Treatment Center, will be open to qualified patients. Executive director and chief operating officer Kevin Fisher told The Gazette, “New England Treatment will require all employees to go through a robust training course and background check.” Any licensed medical marijuana facility will have to pay a $50,000 registration fee each year. In addition to that, they will be charged $500 per year for each worker at the dispensary.

When asked how she felt about South Hadley possibly becoming a growing spot for medical marijuana, librarian Rebecca Mazur said, “I certainly don’t mind if it’s here, but I really don’t know much about it. I would not expect a great change either way.”

South Hadley’s School Resource Officer, Steve Fleming, had a much stronger opinion on the subject. “I think since it’s been decriminalized, it’s become socially acceptable in society,” said Fleming. “Unfortunately, I’m really not for the dispensaries or legalization, but I think it’s eventually going to be legalized everywhere, which is unfortunate.”