Lazy River
Mark Leal, director of operations, and Kevin Platt, director of cultivation — have invested $16 million, thus far, on the land and buildings. Lawyers and legal expenses, travel and training costs are not part of that figure.
The three partners have known each other since elementary school in southern New Hampshire 35 years ago. They followed separate paths after school, but they came together again to build this business.
That connection of friendship has helped create a family-oriented, team environment, Cassotis believes.
Growing up in Salem, N.H., the partners feel a strong connection to this region of Massachusetts.
While planning the business, they decided they wanted a building that they could build out to their own specifications, not the specification of a previous business. They found an empty 16,000-square-foot “dry warehouse” — a building without plumbing or
electricity — filled with old dairy equipment.
Speaking to a group of about 30 in the brightly lit dispensary, Cassotis said, “We planned our interior around our workflow.”
It’s an advantage competitors don’t have. The dispensary has a modern feel with its blue lighting glinting off steel. A mural behind the cashiers has an autumn in rural New England feel.
“This is gorgeous. They did a great job and met every requirement,” said Town Manager Ann Vandal.
Beyond making a big investment in the property, Cassotis said the company “has an enormous commitment to giving. They’ve donated 980 pounds of food to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank at Christmas and at other times last year. These are dire times for people,” he said.
Appropriately, Lazy River has also worked with the Clean River Project in Lowell. During the winter they joined an effort to clean up abandoned homeless encampments along the Merrimack River.
“Give back, grow, succeed,” seems to be the mantra for Lazy River. “When we succeed our neighbors succeed. Everyone gets raise up,” Cassotis said.
Soon, he hopes to have Lazy River branded products available. Until final licenses are granted and the first crop is harvested, Lazy River will offer other branded products, “but only the best products. Our menu will always be refined,” he promised.
Pointing out one feature of the first floor of the building, Cassotis hinted that more plans are in the works and they will soon be talking to the town about them.
“This property has potential,” he said. Later, he mentioned medical marijuana as one potential area for growth.
Before taking visitors on a tour of the facility, he pointed to the room that houses the safe. From his brief overview, it seems nearly impregnable, with complex layers of steps keeping people out who shouldn’t be there.
The emphasis on security and safety meets Police Chief Peter Bartlett’s approval.
“The town has embraced this (marijuana establishments). It’s a quality installation and Lazy River has shown a commitment to strict adherence to safety, security and compliance,” he said. Bartlett approved the plans last June.
Cassotis took visitors on a grand tour of the building, highlighting its many high-tech advancements.
Employees working with cultivating and processing the plants will go through several steps of cleaning and sanitizing before entering the work environment. They will be fully covered in clothing that meets standards to prohibit
spores of any kind from contaminating the plants. The final step is an “air shower,” which will blast any remaining contaminants away.
Plants will be separately watered by a computercontrolled system that adds droplets of water to the growing environment just as the plant needs the moisture.
He handed the tour over to Platt, the director of cultivation, to explain the role genetics will play in their pursuit of the best plants. Platt explained that the genetic code for each plant is tested. These plants are classified as male and female. All male plants are discarded. The female plants are tested again and again. When that plant is fully grown, cuttings are taken from it to perpetuate its genes.
The growing process is compartmentalized and eight rooms contain hundreds of plants. Each room will be harvested once every eight weeks.
Platt anticipates they will harvest 400 to 500 pounds of marijuana every month, which will support the Lazy River dispensary and supply others in the state.