City Of Medford: City In Negotiations With Potential Marijuana Dispensary On Community Host Agreement

Medford MA

30 December, 2021

11:57 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Medford: December 30, 2021 Additional Meetings with Other Applicants Set for January (MEDFORD)—Last month, the City's Cannabis Advisory Commission presented Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn with a final ranking of the nine applicants seeking to establish retail businesses in Medford. From this list, the Mayor chose to start by interviewing the top five applicants to review and discuss parking, traffic, community benefits and other key priorities. The Mayor has already met with the highest-ranking company, Theory Wellness, and has been in active discussions with its executives on a Host Community Agreement. She will be meeting with representatives from the other four companies throughout the month of January. As set by the City's zoning ordinance, which was amended and finalized in late 2020, the city may negotiate Host Community Agreements with up to three establishments, within specified commercial or industrial zones. While engaging with the applicants, the Mayor is reviewing many factors including, parking, traffic and how each company has outlined their community benefit section to determine which agreement could provide the most impactful resources to the community. This selection process has been transparent, with the public receiving updates regarding timelines, next steps and participated in public meetings with each applicant. Medical marijuana dispensaries were approved by statewide vote in 2016, the City of Medford has been working to establish policies and regulations around these establishments as well as the newer regulations for retail businesses. Timeline of selection and approval process: November 2012: Medical marijuana approved in MA by voters December 2015: City of Medford administration presented a draft medical marijuana ordinance to City Council November 2016: Recreational Marijuana legalized (with regulations) in MA by voters, and an amendment sent to the Medford City Council. Medford voters supported Question 4 with 56% voting in support of legalizing marijuana, with regulations. July 2020: Proposed Zoning Amendment submitted for review to the Medford Community Development Board September 2020: Final Zoning Amendment adopted by City Council November 17, 2020: Cannabis Advisory Committee ordinance adopted by City Council February 11, 2021: Cannabis Advisory Committee holds first meeting March 5, 2021: Cannabis Advisory Committee released application requirements and scoring criteria for the marijuana retail license. April 30, 2021: Applications received by the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability from 10 applicants. May 20, 2021: 10 applications presented to, subsequently approved by CAC following staff review. July 2021: Community outreach meetings held by applicants for proposed retail establishments October 13, 2021: Cannabis Advisory Committee voted on final rankings for all nine final applicants October/November 2021: Final rankings and information presented to the Mayor December: First Host agreement started the negotiation process January/Feb. 2022: Mayor will be meeting with 4-8 more companies. HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS Per City ordinance, recreational marijuana establishments are only allowed in districts zoned as "Commercial II" or "Industrial." Per City ordinance, recreational marijuana establishments may not be located within 500 linear feet of any K-12 school. It is the Mayor's discretion to accept rankings and to negotiate Host Community Agreements. Per City ordinance, up to three licenses may be granted.   TAX REVENUE This press release was produced by the City of Medford. The views expressed here are the author's own.