MetroWest495 Biz

Comfortable majorities of local vot- ers supported the 2012 statewide ballot question that legalized medical mari- juana; town vote tallies closely reflect the broader 63-percent approval rate. Most local towns then moved quickly to enact zoning laws that dictate where medical marijuana businesses could operate. That's why most of them are confined to tucked-away industrial parks. That's been the case in Milford and Franklin, home to two medical marijuana facilities. But a new proposal for Millis, filed under a new round of applications, could bring one closer to public view. In full view on Route 109? Marc and Ellen Rosenfeld are two Millis-based developers and attorneys who decided they wanted to branch out from commercial and residential devel - opment after the medical marijuana law was passed. Ellen joked that she and her brother, the children of Huna Rosenfeld, a prominent businessman who devel - oped large portions of retail property in town and built significant housing developments, are two of the last people you would ever find using marijuana recreationally. But as they investigated medical marijuana as a business, the siblings said they were struck by how it could help people manage the side effects of cancer and other chronic illnesses. Their mother, Hindy Rosenfeld, a Millis selectwoman, and brother, Joel Rosenfeld, a police officer in town, both died of cancer. "It would have been nice if this was an option," Marc Rosenfeld said. The Rosenfelds received a letter of support from the town of Medway in early July concerning their proposal to build a medical marijuana cultiva - tion facility on a part of industrial land owned by their family's business, Rosenfeld Companies, on Route 109. After receiving a letter of support from the town of Millis a few weeks later, they hope to build a retail dispensary on the same stretch of road just a little farther east over the Millis line. That facility, if built, will be visible from the road and will be the sales site for marijuana grown in Medway. (Medical marijuana businesses in Mas - sachusetts are required to make and sell their own product.) Letters of support, or at least letters of non-opposition, are vital to medical marijuana dispensary applicants. With - out them, said Marc Rosenfeld, a pro- posal is close to doomed. He recognized that his family's track record probably boded well when they brought their plans to town officials. "I think it's worth something when we come forward and we have a history here," Rosenfeld said. But getting a medical marijuana business up and running has been tough for most first-phase applicants. The new wave of applicants hopes the road will be smoother after the Depart - ment of Public Health (DPH) revised the process this year. "Only time will tell if we're suc- cessful and it comes to bear," Ellen Rosenfeld said. The Rosenfelds have since been invited to submit an applica- tion to the DPH for a license to operate a medical marijuana cultivation facility and dispensary. The new corporate neighbors Local controversy isn't expected to be a factor. Charles Aspinwall, the Millis town administrator, said he doesn't expect a medical marijuana retail establishment to be received any differently than less-visible cultivation facility proposals have been, or will be, in communities across Massachusetts. "We've had override votes that have passed by one," he mused. "Here, the majority of people have said they're in favor of the medical dispensing of it and that's the view we're taking." Of course, critics exist. In Franklin, home to a large cultivation facility in the Forge Park industrial complex, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting fielded occasional phone calls from resi - dents when New England Treatment Access (NETA) wanted to come to town. Concerns centered mostly on the security of the building and of vehicles transporting the product, but have been minimal, Nutting said. "They're a corporate neighbor, at this point," Nutting said. One way to woo the neighbors when you're in this business is to offer tours, highlighting security features, said Norton Arbelaez, standards and prac - tices consultant at the NETA site. The cultivation facility makes medicinal products, including edibles, for NETA 20 MetroWest495 Biz | August 2015 A handful of MetroWest towns are either home to medical marijuana establishments, or could become home to them following the second round of licensing that kicked off at the end of June. As these new businesses get down to the work of producing and dispensing medicinal marijuana products, the general consensus is that they blend in just fine with their corporate neighbors. MetroWest medical marijuana field increasing – and that's fine with almost everyone BY EMILY MICUCCI MetroWest495Biz Marc and Ellen Rosenfeld of Millis, who lost their mother and brother to cancer, hope to begin a medical marijuana business to help others suffering from chronic illness. s page 22 Medical marijuana dispensary licensees in MetroWest Business Location Type Central Ave. Compassionate Center Inc. Ayer Cultivation and retail Milford Medicinals Milford Cultivation and retail New England Treatment Access Franklin Cultivation Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health

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