Swansea – Lucrative and not problematic were the adjectives Selectmen Chairman Robert Marquis cited when discussing his board’s goals on medical marijuana projects being proposed within the town’s designated manufacturing zone.
In addition, he’d like to see Sears Road upgraded and access to the former 54-acre Sears farm improved as part of pending packages, Marquis said in an interview after the board’s last meeting.
The update follows a brief and unspecific presentation last week by a representative of Doctor’s Orders Group, Mackie Barch, director of corporate development.
Selectmen requested Barch respond to a series of questions after that public meeting on Dec. 13, which he did a week later.
Some key confirmations he gave were they are prepared to build a marijuana growing facility and dispensary costing $4-6 million, excluding buying the 7.3-acre property at 4 Sears Road.
They estimate within two years creating 40 to 50 jobs paying at least $15 an hour and entering a host agreement with Swansea to pay the town "a minimum of $35,000 a year or 5 percent of net profit, whichever is greater," according to a follow-up letter to Swansea shared with The Herald News.
Barch did not respond to several emailed requests for information.
Marquis said he was familiar with most of that information from a conference call he and Town Administrator John McAuliffe had previously with Barch.
He added, "They have to do better than what they did."
He also noted that building a project worth $4 million would add approximately $100,000 a year to the tax base.
That Colorado group established a Massachusetts presence last year with the Department of Public Health as DO Health Massachusetts, according to Barch and public records.
Marquis indicated the numbers Barch provided in his follow-up letter don’t add up to a lucrative project.
He and Vice Chairman Christopher Carreiro also said XIPHIAS Wellness Inc., represented by Boston attorney Philip Silverman, would be making their presentation to selectmen for a medical marijuana project at the next meeting.
Marquis emphasized that "no retail sales" is allowed in the town’s single manufacturing zone where a medical marijuana facility can be built with a special permit. That means when recreational marijuana will reportedly become available in 2018 this facility could not provide retail sales.
"The deal has to be right," Carreiro said.
The third selectman, Derek Heim, told Barch he could not support an open-ended deal to allow a recreational marijuana dispensary.
Barch said they could not agree to that because of the competition in the rapidly changing industry.
Barch said he seeks "a letter of non-opposition" or support from the board and town that would enable Doctor’s Orders to obtain final license approved by the state Department of Public Health.
He asked verbally and in the letter if that could be accomplished by the end of 2016, now just days away. Marquis indicated that would not happen.
"Others have contacted us. There are three or four of them," he said, "we’re going to them allow to make a presentation so we can make a comparison."
Barch wrote that Doctor’s Orders cultivates 85,000 square feet of marijuana facilities in Colorado and Oregon and is "one of the leading cannabis cultivation processing and retailing operations in the United States."
He said the company has produced more than "4 tons of cannabis over the last seven years," now producing 500 pounds a month.
Herman and Pauline Camara of Swansea, who are being represented by attorney Will Flanagan, are selling the 7.3-acre property on Sears Road. The former Fall River mayor has enmeshed himself in the medical marijuana industry and has represented clients with varying interests.
The property is assessed at just under $700,000, and Marquis said he understands Doctor’s Orders has a conditional offer to buy it for approximately $2 million.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Swansea Selectmen Seek Lucrative Deal In Marijuana Talks
Author: Michael Holtzman
Contact: 508-676-8211
Photo Credit: Jack Foley
Website: The Herald News
