Some attendees were also concerned that their property values would decline if a cannabis store was located near them, or that long lines would be difficult to manage.
Tag: Theory Wellness
A stone’s throw from Theory, second pot shop planned for Stockbridge Road
Valkyrie will have to go through the site-plan review process with the town planning board and negotiate a host community agreement with the selectboard.
PERSPECTIVES: Egremont couple crowdfunding future cannabis store, as more outlets reopen after shutdown
In the cannabis industry, trying to raise capital through traditional borrowing is difficult, in part because most commercial banks avoid lending money for marijuana businesses.
With recreational cannabis shops closed, why do liquor stores remain open?
The problem is that recreational sales account for the vast majority of revenue for stores, and since medical marijuana is not taxed, revenues to the state and the municipalities that host the stores have dried up during the shutdown.
Coronavirus impact: Some South County businesses close, some struggle, others do well
If you’re a restaurant owner who wants to stay open in the midst of a public health crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic, you essentially have one choice: trying to eke out a living by offering take-out, and perhaps delivery.
Sheela Clary updates the want ads in the coronavirus era
ISO Theory Wellness line waiter: Must be willing and able to stand for up to three hours in close proximity to 100 or more out-of-towners who might have just arrived in the country from who knows where.
Woman-owned cannabis ’boutique’ on Main Street set for spring opening
Calyx intends to work with nonprofits that help to represent its brand of women supporting women.
Alan Chartock: I Publius
You can hardly find a parking space now. More pot dispensaries will make an already bad problem even worse.
EDITORIAL: Fulcrum opponents should be careful what they wish for
If the permit is denied, Fulcrum could tie the town up in prolonged and expensive litigation. Or a vengeful Fulcrum could return with a different proposal — perhaps one that is equally objectionable and does not require a special permit.
Selectmen want to limit number of pot shops to seven, on a par with liquor stores
When selectboard Chair Steve Bannon opened the floor to comments from the audience, most seemed to agree that, in addition to placing restrictions on the stores, the larger question remains about what kind of image the tourism-minded town wants to project.
With hearing on pot-growing proposal set for Monday, company changes its plan, then withdraws
The proposal, first made public in September, has alarmed residents of the neighborhood, whose concerns range from noise and odors to the effect of the Fulcrum project on property values and the aforementioned impact on the water supply.
GB, South County Year in Review: Of mergers, bridges, cannabis and ‘blood money’
In the spirit of reflection and self-examination, herein lies The Edge’s second annual Great Barrington year in review. It includes some select stories from other South County towns as well, along with embedded links to Edge stories for more information.
It’s Not That Simple: Pot money, zoning, town property
Our intent with this column and the radio broadcast is to describe the issues and how they do or do not get solved so that we, all voters and taxpayers, can be part of the process. So please, keep the comments coming.
Great Barrington’s cannabis quandary: What to do with that pot revenue?
Proposals for how to use the cannabis revenue windfall will be discussed by the selectboard and the finance committee in the upcoming deliberations for next year’s budget, with voters having the final say on how to spend free cash at the annual town meeting in May.
Federal corruption probe targets towns’ cannabis agreements
Great Barrington, Eastham, Leicester, Newton, Northampton, and Uxbridge have received subpoenas from the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling seeking information about so-called host community agreements.
Town of Lee sees its first windfall from cannabis revenue, as Canna Provisions writes a check
The two payments, totaling nearly $140,000 for the first three months of business, “represent a significant sum to the town, which has an annual operating budget of just $25 million,” according to Canna provisions.
Business Briefs: Berkshire Trendsetter Awards; Downtown Pittsfield fall cleanup; cultural council deadline; home-buying seminar; Flying Cloud board members
In accordance with Mass Cultural Council guidelines, a deadline of Tuesday, Oct. 15, has been set for organizations, schools and individuals to apply for grants for 2020 that support cultural activities in the community.
Alan Chartock: I Publius
The fact is that the people of Massachusetts, and specifically of Great Barrington, voted in statewide referendum to allow this operation. We don’t necessarily learn about the downsides until the moment of truth is upon us.
Criminal charges prompt state to suspend license of Sheffield pot grower
The Cannabis Control Commission says it has suspended all six licenses held by Nova Farms, including indoor and outdoor grow licenses at the company’s farm in Sheffield, as well as licenses for cultivation, manufacturing and retail sales at Nova’s facility in Attleboro.
Health panel raises questions, refuses to give nod to aspiring pot growers
In declining to recommend the permit to the selectboard, which will consider it on Monday night, the health board said it needed more information on noise, odor and possible effects on groundwater.
IT’S NOT SO SIMPLE: Economic development — Is your dream my nightmare?*
What type of economic development does not bring with it some aspect that some of us find unpalatable? How much are we willing to put up with in order to improve economic opportunities for ourselves and others.
Former sandwich shop demolished to make way for parking lot
While owner Craig Barnum said he did receive some rental inquiries, he decided the lot would be more valuable as parking than as a rental unit.
Farmer’s ‘dream come true’: Great Barrington cannabis retailer gets final state license to grow outdoors
Dobson has two greenhouses already up and is building a third. That way, he can continue to grow over the winter. But the bottom line is there won’t be as much outdoor product as there would be in a normal growing season.
Despite concerns, cannabis could be an economic driver for Berkshire County
Surely the most important question now on the local level is how to manage the siting and operations of the shops and cultivation facilities.
The numbers are in: Great Barrington snags almost $1 million from pot sales
At Monday’s selectboard meeting, member Kate Burke noted that the money cannot be spent yet because it was not budgeted for. The disposition of the funds will be discussed during budget deliberations this fall.
Of antiques and ‘journeys’: New cannabis shop opens its doors in Lee
“It’s exciting. It’s interesting and we’ll see where it goes, but I don’t see any problems other than maybe traffic for awhile, but I don’t really see any downside.”
— Lee Selectwoman Patricia Carlino
In ‘joint’ meeting, Great Barrington officials call for public info session on limiting pot shops
New zoning bylaws would prevent some cannabis retailers from opening merely by restricting the number of available locations. On the other hand, a policy from the selectboard placing a numerical limit would clearly prevent more retailers from opening.
Lee pot shop, Sheffield farm receive final licenses from state cannabis authorities
Nova Farms in Sheffield says it will use sustainable methods to minimize its carbon footprint and will also be home to livestock such as Scottish Highland cattle and an apple orchard.
2019 Berkshire International Film Festival ‘the best year yet’
Great Barrington — “This will be the best year yet,” Kelley Vickery, founder and artistic director of the Berkshire International Film Festival, stated during her recent chat on WAMC’s “The Roundtable.” “We want to bring a light to independent films from near and far.” Just perusing the catalogue and reading about the different films we can
Cowering under the covers
I know that there are people, lots of people, with personal problems and responsibilities, places they need to be and things they need to do just to survive. They do not have the luxury of staying in bed until their courage kicks in to face the day.
Of plastic water bottles, weed, Du Bois and zoning: Great Barrington annual town meeting preview
Minus the education side, the proposed town budget itself will rise from $11.37 million to $11.55 million, for an increase of only 1.6 percent.
Great Barrington cannabis store joins ‘social equity’ program to help others enter the business
Theory Wellness, the first medical cannabis dispensary to launch in the Berkshires and one of the first recreational retailers to open in the state, has stepped forward to fund and operate a social equity program designed to support “economic empowerment” entrepreneurs in opening cannabis dispensaries.