Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | Novermber 27, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 15 No deal has been struck and the dis- cussions are still in the early stages, but the opportunity is nonetheless exciting for the Hartwells and the town. "We were thrilled," Cindy Hartwell said of the possibility of bringing hun- dreds of jobs back to her hometown. Purple, her father, said he's hoped the mill could one day help sustain the town and boost its local economy. "Hopefully we'll find a way to make it happen," he said. H E A L T H C A R E F O C U S W A Bach Baroque Christmas Tickets: $12-$36, youth under 17 free $5 for EBT cardholders must show card at door Tickets and Info worcesterchambermusic.org or call 508-217-4450 Thursday, Nov 30 | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Worcester Historical Museum 30 Elm Street, Worcester Pre-concert talk 7:00 PM JS Bach Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 and 6 With Jesse Holstein, violin and Andrus Madsen, harpsichord WORCESTER CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY Season 12 | 2017-2018 Friday, Dec 1 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM * Old Sturbridge Village * Pre-concert dinner 6:00 PM, tickets and info for this concert at www.osv.org Worcester Business Journal WBJ Let marijuana growers go both ways With marijuana now legal for recreational use and retail pot stores opening next year, companies already growing marijuana for medical use are eyeing the recreational game. When polled online, WBJ readers overwhelmingly said such facilities should be allowed to do both. F L A S H P O L L Do you think medical marijuana growers should be able to grow for recreational use? COMMENTS: Yes. But the state should increase its oversight or regulations for such operations. Yes. They're already growing pot anyway. 53% No. The line dividing recreational and medicinal must be protected. 16% No. Marijuana shouldn't be legal at all. 20% 11% "Growing and marketing are against federal law. Duh." "Marijuana is everywhere, always has been. It's not going away just because there are a few ignorant assumptions and untruths about this medicinal plant. It. Is. Legal. People should be worried about alcohol, and the damage it continues to do to our society." "The state has made a place for the smaller craft growers, and this group of growers needs to be protected from the deep pockets of the established big grows." opportunity may not become a reality, the town is excited to repopulate the mill with workers. When the mill closed, the region lost nearly 700 jobs, said Town Manager Shaun Suhoski. "That was a big hit when those jobs went out," he said. Suhoski has been working with Purple and the Hartwells to find a ten- ant for the impressive structure. Currently, that means a letter of non- opposition the board approved last month and a Host Community Agreement that has not yet been approved. If the groups go forward with the endeavour, they'll join a growing list of 248 medical marijuana establish- ments that have either submitted applications, withdrew or are currently operating grow sites or dispensaries. Athol's courting of the marijuana grow facility is in stark contrast to other communities' approach the for- merly illicit drug. At least 11 commu- nities in Central Massachusetts – including Ashland, Marlborough, Hopkinton, Millbury and Shrewsbury – have placed moratoriums or out- right bans on any recreational mari- juana facilities within their borders. The marijuana facility has faced little opposition in Athol among town officials or residents – the letter of non-opposition was passed by the Board of Selectmen passed 4-1 – as supporters want one of the town's abandoned buildings to become active again. "Hopefully, we'll find a way to make it happen." Bill Purple, founder, L.P. Athol Corp., which owns the Union Twist Drill building Bill Purple, owner of the Union Twist Drill building, has been working to return the site to its former glory since the manufacturing site closed.

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