AMHERST – A third applicant to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in Amherst has been endorsed by the Select Board.
But unlike two others that received letters of support during the winter, concerns about the applications process, raised by Select Board member Andrew Steinberg at Monday’s hearing, may prompt a more formal scrutiny by the board of those interested in opening in Amherst.
The board voted 3-1, with Steinberg opposed and member James Wald absent, to issue a letter of support for the dispensary proposed by GTI-Massachusetts NP Corp. for a 3.3-acre site at 169 Meadow St, most recently used as Kimball Auction and Real Estate Service. Kimball relocated to Route 9 in Hadley, where it shares a building with Rocky’s Ace Hardware, 299 Russell St.
The letter of support will go to the state’s Department of Public Health, which will review the proposal.
Previously, the board issued letters of support for proposals by MassMedicum Corp. of Easton for a dispensary at 85 University Drive, and Mass Alternative Care of Springfield for 55 University Drive.
Steinberg said he is concerned that GTI-Massachusetts is a for-profit company with headquarters in Chicago, that no doctor or pharmacist was present at the meeting to offer insights into the use of medical cannabis, and that the company has no connections to western Massachusetts.
“I do think it’s our responsibility to consider those issues,” Steinberg said.
But board member Constance Kruger said the Select Board has no expertise in some of these matters.
Selectman Douglas Slaughter suggested developing a checklist so consistent standards can be used to determine whether to support applicants.
If approved by the state, Anthony Georgiadis, director and chief operating officer for the company said he would move to western Massachusetts and oversee the nonprofit subsidiary.
“We would cultivate and process cannabis in West Springfield and then distribute here to Amherst,” Georgiadis said.
Matt Levine, director of the growing operation in Illinois, said security is a top concern, with all areas of the building under video surveillance and a direct camera feed to local and state police.
Eight to 10 full-time equivalent jobs will be created within the first year, he said.
“We are helping people who really benefit from this medicine,” Levine said.
Amherst attorney Thomas Reidy said the North Amherst property is zoned as light industrial, is distant from the other medical marijuana applicants and that the company is a legitimate nonprofit.
“Because we’re here, we’ve proven that to the state’s satisfaction,” Reidy said.
Steinberg, though, asked to delay the vote until town counsel could weigh in on the validity of the company’s nonprofit status in Massachusetts.
GTI-Massachusetts would still be required to apply a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, if it is approved by the state.
Hampshire County now has one dispensary, New England Treatment Access, which opened in September at 118 Conz St. in Northampton.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
