<p>Island businessman Geoff Rose, who holds the only license to grow and sell medical marijuana, has officially shown interest in obtaining a license to sell recreational marijuana.</p>
The businessman who plans to operate the Island’s first and only licensed medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation facility has officially shown interest in obtaining a license to sell recreational marijuana as well.
The Cannabis Control Commission recently released a list of business entities who have received priority certification, which means they can apply early for recreational marijuana licensing. An application from Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard, owned by Island businessman Geoff Rose, was submitted on April 3, according to Cannabis Control Commission records. Patient Centric was granted the certification on April 10.
Mr. Rose confirmed that he is taking next steps in the application process for a recreational license.
“There’s a process, and I’m currently reviewing the community outreach guidelines,” he told the Gazette Tuesday.
Community outreach guidelines require prospective marijuana retailers to hold a public meeting to present their business plan and discuss community impacts. The guidelines also require a host community agreement with the host town. Mr. Rose is licensed to sell medical marijuana in West Tisbury. He declined to say what town he might consider for recreational sales.
“This effort needs to be done by mature, responsible individuals who have a knowledge of the industry and as importantly an understanding of the community and a caring of the community,” he said.
Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard was one of 55 registered marijuana dispensaries to complete an application for priority certification in Massachusetts as of April 9, according to records from the Cannabis Control Commission’s meeting on the issue.
Those who received priority certification can apply for recreational licensing starting this week. Others have to wait until the first of May or the first of June, depending on eligibility. Sale of recreational, or adult-use, marijuana is expected to begin this summer in Massachusetts.
If he does apply for a marijuana establishment license, the commission has 90 days to review the application once all required documents are submitted. The municipality has 60 days after the application is submitted to notify the commission of any issues with local ordinances or bylaws.
Mr. Rose was the only Islander to receive a provisional license to grow and sell medical marijuana from the Department of Public Health in 2016. Since then, he has cleared local permitting with the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and construction has gotten underway at a cultivation facility on Dr. Fisher Road in West Tisbury. He plans to open his medical dispensary at a separate storefront on State Road sometime next year.
West Tisbury selectmen, together with town counsel Ron Rappaport, are in the process of drafting a community host agreement with Mr. Rose for Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard. Other towns have used such agreements to require marijuana dispensaries and distributors to pay thousands of dollars in extra impact fees. In discussion of the agreement, selectmen have indicated that they don’t plan to require Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard to pay significant fees for the first year of business.
Comments
This article ought to draw
Resident West TisburyThis article ought to draw quite a bit of comments
If his application goes thru
MM OBIf his application goes thru he may be the richest man on the island very shortly
Of course. Did anybody
Sara Piazza EdgartownOf course. Did anybody actually think it would not lead to this? How sad. A country that once promoted greatness now settles for stonedness.
This is outrageous. I had no
Christopher family and my two boys EdgartownThis is outrageous. I had no problem with the the medical side of Mr Rose’s marijuana plant and I attended every Marijuana meeting. Mr. Rose never outlined this- why is this happening? This will destroy the island- guaranteed.
Well since you've guaranteed
Bicycles EdgartownWell since you've guaranteed it, I assume you are already planning your move? Not safe to remain here with all these crazy stoners. You should probably just go now before it gets really bad.
Jamaica. It will be just like
Sandy Oak BluffsJamaica. It will be just like Jamaica . awesome! THANK YOU!!!!
I hope Mr. Rose and his
Mike Stein EdgartownI hope Mr. Rose and his investors have lawyers because this is an accident waiting to happen.
I would also like to know
Bob B WTI would also like to know who are the investors? Do they have young children on the Island?
Who is behind this ? Who are
Mike and Jim ChilmarkWho is behind this ? Who are the investors?
So this was his intention all
Charles and Christopher EdgartownSo this was his intention all along. We all need to wake up because people like this will destroy the very fabric that makes our islands special. Pull the plug on this before it festers —- or not, because of you think mopeds and Piping Plovers are an issue just wait until this blossoms —
Thank God for you, a light in
Bicycles EdgartownThank God for you, a light in the darkness. This will obviously tear the community apart. How dare responsible adults be allowed to make choices for themselves? Preposterous!
It is finally coming to the
Jose R. Oak BluffsIt is finally coming to the island. I and my friends always go down to Cape and a real problem especially in Summer. It is better for all the hotel workers.
Is this legal?
Jordan Krasnodar EdgartownIs this legal?
I liked Mr. Rose’s initial
Christopher Rapone Vineyard HavenI liked Mr. Rose’s initial plans but he clearly has alternative motives. I do not like this - I did not like this at all and question his motives- who is behind this ambitious endeavor - and scary it’s moving without any concerns.
Why are we surprised? This
Island Mom Oak BluffsWhy are we surprised? This is Mr. Rose's logical next step. He would be a fool to just to the 'community good' part. I am completely opposed to both the medical and recreational business on MV. It is a fact that in communities with Medical Marijuana dispensaries the product magically appears in the corridors of the local high school. The idea that this medical dispensary is 'regulated' or 'pharmaceutically' managed is horse manure. There are other ways to voice your opinion in addition to showing up to meeting, writing letters and saying no to the Selectman. Ditch your Island card.
I'm sorry, Island Mom...but
BMBMV EdgartownI'm sorry, Island Mom...but if you honestly believe that marijuana hasn't made its way into our high school yet, then you are sadly mistaken. It doesn't take a medical marijuana dispensary to open up in town to have marijuana "magically appear in the corridors of the local high school."
Just Outrageous!
Dean West TisburyJust Outrageous!
Why this?
Katie TisburyWhy this?
This is very disappointing.
Farley Pedler West TisburyThis is very disappointing. Mr. Rose repeatedly stated at the MVC hearings that he and his investors had no intention of being involved with recreational marijuana. Where is your dignity? Shameful to say the least. I urge everyone in our community to speak up about this.
His business model has
It's businessHis business model has evolved, Farley, what is so inherently terrible about recreational marijuana? If someone chooses between driving from Aquinnah to a bar in OB and then DUI back, or going down to Mr. Rose's friendly store and buying a joint to smoke at their home, wouldn't the joint be preferable? Let people do what they will in the privacy of their own homes.
As many of us said from the
deshandra brown EdgIts obvious that the motive from day one was to sell as much marijuana as possible. No way could a 'medical dispensary' survive on the small number of patients that actually could benefit from a medical use. As many of us said from the beginning, this BS of medical marijuana is just another scam to promote the sale of weed. The way the doctors hand out pain killer prescriptions like candy (that created the opioid painkiller addiction problem) they will be glad to give their patients a script for a few ounces of weed. I'm sure all the pot heads here will be thrilled, but I suggest you ask any police officer about weed. Its a GATEWAY drug. Show me just one heroin or oxy addict that did not begin with marijuana.
I'm sorry, but I have to
BMBMV EdgartownI'm sorry, but I have to respectfully, 100% disagree with this statement. I can show you dozens of people suffering from heroin or opiate drug addiction who NEVER touched pot before they were LEGALLY prescribed pills & got hooked on opiates because of it. There are also MANY people who have smoked pot and never went further on to harder drugs.
I believe MASS voters
gina Menemsha/nycI believe MASS voters approved retail pot sales last November.. It took the state Government months to figure out how much revenue the state/local govts. . could earn tax wise.. The Cannibus Committee did their Island Road show to get feedback.. Retail Pot stores are coming in the near future state wide, not just MVY.. Think Colorado..
You've come to the wrong
Bicycles EdgartownYou've come to the wrong place if you expect common sense and rationality to be well received by this crowd. God bless your efforts though.
I'm not for or against as I
paul adler West TisburyI'm not for or against as I don't use pot, however, right now any pot smoker can buy pot very easily on the Island, and I hate to admit, almost any other drug. At least this way our county and state will gettax revenues from the sales, and sanctioned pot is safer as it is not sprayed with chemicals. My only concern is will increased pot use lead to more car accidents or an increased risk to more dangerous drugs such as opioids? I believe studies show escalation to harder drugs is not likely, but I am concerned about traffic safety.
I'm not sure whether the
AB OBI'm not sure whether the people making the comments know how much weed there is on the Island already. That doesn't include what people bring to the Island. The one positive outcome of this would be that it would be regulated.
And WT will profit very
MikeD WTAnd WT will profit very handsomely due to taxes received for EVERY SALE.
No more 2 1/2% tax overrides.
Cash strapped communities need to consider the windfall $$$ they are about to get.
Unfortunately that is not
Elaine B West TisburyUnfortunately that is not necessarily how sales tax works - it usually goes into a general fund that the state then determines how it is being spent i.e education, welfare, government etc - in other words the collected funds do not go directly back to the community where the tax was collected. The town can elect to collect an additional tax on goods and services which would be determined and administered by the town - those funds then do go directly back to the collecting community. West Tisbury selectman had the opportunity to add an additional tax on medical marijuana but elected not to despite legal counsel advising collecting additional fees. https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2018/03/04/medical-marijuana-nears-rea…
Let's be real people - Geoff
BMBMV EdgartownLet's be real people - Geoff is a good guy, but can you honestly say that if you were in his shoes, you wouldn't take the opportunity to sell recreationally? If you're so worried about the impact this will have on the island, you obviously don't understand the amount of marijuana use that already exists on this island. If you're so worried about the impact this will have on the kids in our community, then maybe it'd be a good time for parents to look at the way they are parenting. Kids will get their hands on anything they want & set their minds to - whether it be alcohol, pot, pills...I think people need to be responsible and make sure that if they decide to have marijuana in their homes, they keep it out of the reach of their children (just like it should be done with alcohol and other prescription drugs.)
The legal age for recreational marijuana use is 21 - so only adults 21 and over will have access to this facility if the recreational side of it gets approved.
Everyone needs to calm down - this is still in the discussion stage and just because he has applied for a recreational license doesn't mean that the towns/zoning laws will actually approve him to do it.
Geoff may be a "good guy"
Ken WTGeoff may be a "good guy" however I don't want the gate drug in my back yard...
Let’s be really real. This
Chris Egan West TisburyLet’s be really real. This is what that “good guy” had planned for from day one. Medical marajuana was just a foot in the door. Wake up West Tisbury industrial marajuana has come to our town and is looking to expand even before the factory is completed. Is this really what we want? How does this enhance our community?
Thank you Chris.
Jerry West TisburyThank you Chris.
I agree completely and thank you. I have read all the comments and I am truly concerned. I as others would like to know who in our community is his investors? WHY the silence from Geoff Rose and why not disclose who his investors are - we need full disclosure.
OMG, could this be worse than
ChipMVGuestLast35 ATLOMG, could this be worse than letting people drink alcohol? ;)
the camel's nose in the tent
Lorraine Edgartownthe camel's nose in the tent was "medical marijuana"....what did any of you expect?
That's fine if you can get
AB OBThat's fine if you can get full disclosure from other non profits. The medical M is non profit. There are some non profit salaries I would like to know, but they don't have to disclose them.
Of course this was the
Abby Normal The RockOf course this was the ultimate plan. Medical marijuana is a scam anyway. The Dr. exams are a joke. There are many legitimate uses. Some are salves with CBD's, one of the active components of the plant. It has been proven to help with seizures for some folks. Stimulate appetite and reduce nausea for those going through chemo. For states that have legalized recreational the world has not ended. People are not roaming the streets stoned and begging for munchies. What this will replace is the illegal sales and give the town source of additional funds. Drunk people are dangerous behind the wheel from driving too fast. A stoned person might think they are going fast but is only going 10 mph. When did you hear about a stoned person getting in a fight? They would rather eat a cookie! Adults should be able to choose. Most folks born in the 60's and 70's have smoked. Are they all hooked on crank, meth, horse, or any other name for heinous drugs that destroy your life. It is not a gateway unless a person has an addictive personality. And in that case, they will find something to abuse regardless.
Make American Stoned again, could it be any worse than it is now?
Are any of you that are so
Bicycles EdgartownAre any of you that are so concerned with marijuana as a gateway drug going to do anything about the menace that is alcohol?
If any of you actually took the time to do some actual research instead of concerning yourselves with the behavior and choices of other adults, you would have learned that there is a much higher correlation with alcohol use at a young age in developing substance abuse problems than there is with marijuana.
Marijuana is safer than alcohol. That is a fact.
More people who use alcohol become addicts than people who use marijuana. That is a fact.
If you are ok with alcohol consumption but not marijuana consumption, you are either ignorant or an idiot. That is a fact.
No, it is not safer than
Sara Piazza EdgartownNo, it is not safer than alcohol. Marijuana is a different category and can cause psychosis and is very very bad for young developing brains. The experiment in Colorado isn't exactly a shining endorsement for endorsement, either.
When will people realize that
JTWhen will people realize that POT is being legalized nationwide and it is not only here to stay, but it has been a long time coming. If you want to clutch your pearls about something, maybe start with the opioid epidemic...which leads to the heroin epidemic when people can no longer afford the pills. MV probably has more addicts per capita than most places, and it has already been shown that POT actually helps bring those numbers down once it is legal in the area.
If this were in Tisbury, the
AB OBIf this were in Tisbury, the school and more would be paid for by the taxes. In a relatively short time, pot will be legalized federally. Alcohol is much worse.
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