NORTHAMPTON — A community outreach meeting for a proposed marijuana dispensary in the space currently occupied by Pizza Factory drew a big crowd and a heated response Monday night in Florence.
“We don’t want you in Florence,” resident Chris Powers said to the dispensary’s owner.
The meeting, held in the parking lot behind the Goodwin Block, drew well over 100 people, and is a requirement for the proposed business, Euphorium LLC, to be licensed by the Cannabis Control Commission.
Owner Marco Aranzullo of Connecticut said that he intends to move to Northampton and would be at the business every day it’s open except when sick or on vacation.
Aranzullo used to own a cigar shop and lounge, and he said that they want to bring that same energy to the business.
“We’re a small company, we’re not some big corporation from New York,” he said.
The presentation was also expedited to leave more time for questions, as questions and interjections were flying at the meeting even before the floor was formally opened up.
Of those who spoke, a clear majority expressed opposition to the proposed business, with a number of comments receiving raucous applause from the assembled crowd.
“This will change the character and identity of this town and it is not a good change,” said David Velez.
A number of the comments and interjections even veered into the hostile.
A major concern expressed by members of the crowd was the number students who walk by the location from JFK Middle School.
“I don’t want it near JFK,” said Steve Andrews, a teacher at the middle school. “I think it’s a really horrible location.”
At the same time, Andrews said that he was “all for weed” and said that the taxes it provides are “great.”
Traffic and parking concerns were also raised, as was the idea that Northampton is oversaturated with marijuana establishments and the business would not be successful.
“The market here right now is saturated and the money’s not there,” Powers said. “I don’t think it’s going to be successful.”
Physician Michael Willers, a pediatric cardiologist, said that he has children coming into his office who are addicted to marijuana.
“I’ve had kids have to run out in the parking lot and puke because they didn’t toke that morning,” he said. “It does impact the community. It does impact kids.”
He also threatened to take up playing the tuba on the corner of North Main and Maple if the business goes in.
Concerns about the Pizza Factory’s displacement were also raised.
“If somebody walks in there and says ‘I don’t have any money and I’m hungry,’ he’ll give him a pizza,” said Dennis Desmond. “How is your business going to replace that part of our town?”
In response, Isaac Fleisher, Euphorium’s attorney, said that the decision for Pizza Factory to leave the building was made before Euphorium entered into a lease.
“(Euphorium) didn’t come in here and tell the owner to raise rent,” he said.
Aranzullo, meanwhile, said that he’s interested in helping the community.
“I don’t sell food, but I would like to give back,” he said.
Another concern raised at the meeting was the impact of locating a marijuana dispensary in Florence on those recovering from substance abuse.
Rick Haggerty has launched a petition with nearly 400 signatures against locating a new dispensary in Florence, and he said that he had a son who died by suicide from substance abuse and depression.
“Take a stand and say no to another cannabis dispensary,” Haggerty said.
Were Euphorium to open, it would be the first marijuana dispensary in Florence. Currently there are 12 marijuana dispensaries open in Northampton.
Not everyone in attendance voiced opposition to the project.
Maureo Fernandez y Mora said that they’d moved to Florence recently and that using marijuana helped them to be alcohol-free. They also said that they would enjoy being able to walk to a dispensary in downtown Florence
Gideon Fischer, another resident, said that Florence is a “sketchy” place and that if you go into marijuana dispensaries they are not sketchy.
“This is an upgrade for Florence,” he said.
Six city councilors were present at the meeting, although only Ward 6 City Councilor Marianne LaBarge spoke at it.
“Put your money somewhere else,” LaBarge said.
She also expressed a willingness to cap the number of marijuana establishments in Northampton, a community where there is currently no cap.
“If we can cap, we will cap,” she said.
Fleisher told the Gazette that, if Northampton chose to cap the number of marijuana establishments in the city before a host community agreement is signed for Euphorium, that would stop the project.
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra was not at the meeting, nor were the owners of the building. The building was sold to Tigre Opportunity Fund LLC earlier this year.
Aranzullo said that he’s going to process what was said at the meeting before deciding what’s next. He also said that the next step in the process is for them to go back to the mayor in order to get a host community agreement signed.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.