8 Retail Cannabis Applicants Make Their Cases

Now, Select Board will deliberate, reconvene July 18

In launching the Select Board’s retail marijuana hearings on June 12, Chair Todd Johnson made clear the board’s priorities.

“The issue here is about the qualifications and the background of each of the applicants,” said Johnson. “So this board, along the way, can consider among a large group of applicants who the board feels is appropriate to award any one of those three, or up to those three, licenses to.”

Johnson previously stated that the town may award three, two, one or no licenses in this first round of applicants. The board’s questions were designed to assess the applicants’ ability to run a successful business in Tewksbury.

Select Board member James Mackey recused himself from the process at the outset in light of personal connections among the applicant pool, and last night, member Patrick Holland disclosed a business relationship with applicant Dean Graffeo but stated that he could remain impartial.

There are a diverse set of proposals in front of the board. As these were public hearings, interested parties weighed in by letter or in person based on concerns about traffic and environmental impacts and site suitability based on surrounding businesses.

Below are interviews with the eight applicants and their partners. All information on the town’s cannabis licensing process is here. The Select Board will deliberate on the applications at its July 18 meeting.

If you want to send correspondence to the Select Board, contact information is here. Interested residents should get their thoughts in soon as the board is now weighing the town’s options.

Bella Luna and Carbonear will go before the Planning Board on June 26.

An * indicates that the applicant has Planning Board approval of its site plan and any special permits required.

Night 1, June 12

*6 p.m.: Sundaze, 2504 Main St., former Sal’s Pizza – download application
*7 p.m.: Lazy River Product, 553 Main St.. adjacent to Ocean State Job Lot – download application
*8 p.m.: Full Harvest Moonz, 1 Main St., currently vacant Simon’s Service Center on Lowell line – download application

Night 2, June 13

*6 p.m.: The Stories Company LLC, 2122 Main St., vacant lot next to Donna’s Donuts – download application
*7 p.m.: Community Care Collective, 1693 Shawsheen St., MDR construction contractor yard – download proposal
8 p.m.: Pure Tewksbury d/b/a Smyth Cannabis, 1695 Shawsheen St., wooded lot next to Keri Plaza – download proposal

Night 3, June 20

6 p.m.: Bella Luna LLC, 890 East St., former Tri-Wire office building – download proposal
7 p.m.: Carbonear LLC, 2186-2196 Main St., vacant wooded lot next to Boudreau Automotive – download proposal