Walsh plans slow go giving Hub licenses
Dozens of pot industry firms want to open business in Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh said, pledging that the city will “get it right,” while one city councilor cautioned against handing out too many licenses.
“I think we have over 50 applicants right now in the city that are filed for various types of marijuana facilities, whether it’s medical or recreational, or I think there’s some growing places as well in there,” Walsh said. His office was unable to provide details on the number and kinds of contacts City Hall has had with prospective marijuana businesses.
But Walsh said, “We have a process. I sat down with my team yesterday and there’s a process that you have to go through.”
Yesterday, as the state’s first two recreational marijuana shops opened in central and western Massachusetts, Walsh said the timeline for openings in Boston is unclear.
“It’s easy to open up a facility, but we’re not opening up a Dunkin’ Donuts here, we’re opening up a brand-new business in the city of Boston that we have to be very thoughtful on to make sure that we get it right,” Walsh said.
The city requires pot businesses to complete an initial application; apply for a conditional use permit; go through appeals if necessary; create a host community agreement; and complete the state’s approval process.
City Councilor Tim McCarthy, who flew to Denver last December to review how that city deals with pot shops, said he was advised “the more restrictions, the better,” and was cautioned against opening too many shops too soon.
“They admitted they made some mistakes,” McCarthy said. “They told me, ‘Look we did it wrong.’ They came out like gangbusters and gave out too many licenses out of the gate.”
On Dec. 4, McCarthy and Councilor Ayanna Pressley will hold a City Council hearing aimed to “examine and discuss best equity practices in the City’s marijuana licensing process.”
“This is a conversation we need to have to talk about how we proceed,” McCarthy said.
In a statement to the Herald, Pressley added: “This hearing order is the next step in ensuring that cities and towns, including Boston, hear the first-hand testimony from potential owners and employees, and have the necessary resources and capacity to ensure there is legitimate equity in Massachusetts’ recreational marijuana marketplace.”