To the editor:
In favoring a moratorium on marijuana-related businesses in New Marlborough, town voters made their wishes clear: they wish to take a closer look at the town’s zoning and decide how to best incorporate and regulate this new industry within the town. I hope that the town will move quickly to begin this work and will consider how other communities have successfully and responsibly incorporated this kind of business into their zoning.
I do not necessarily view my own project and the town’s moratorium vote to be mutually exclusive. Although the moratorium vote does not impact my own pending application for a marijuana cultivation facility in town, it certainly expresses a widespread cautionary position among town residents. I will be proceeding with the Oasis Campus project with this sentiment in mind. I am hopeful that town residents who are interested in contributing to the Oasis Campus discussion will participate productively as public hearings proceed.
After recent hearings on the Oasis Campus project, town planners, residents and others had many questions about my project. I plan to answer these questions more fully as our hearings proceed.
The next hearing on the Oasis project is April 25 at New Marlborough Town Hall. A meeting of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission takes place April 24 at 6 p.m. at the Lenox Town Hall, and I hope New Marlborough residents will attend to learn more about this new and expanding industry.
It’s my plan to develop a safe, secure and well-managed growing facility for cultivators who are thoroughly vetted and licensed for this work. I believe that New Marlborough can indeed become a model community for responsible cultivation practices that provide full-time jobs and much needed local revenue.
I look forward to moving ahead, in parallel with the town’s bylaw review process.
Thank you.
Joshua Seitz
Oasis Campus LLC
The writer is CEO of Oasis Campus LLC
