Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2013
Source: Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH)
Copyright: 2013 Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/885
Author: Samantha Allen

Cannabis Care

NASHUA AND AREA COMMUNITIES CAUTIOUS ON WELCOMING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA 
DISPENSARY

Editor's note: New Hampshire is the 19th state to allow some form of 
medical marijuana. The Telegraph's six-day series, Cannabis Care, 
examines New Hampshire's therapeutic marijuana legislation and how 
the law will work, including who can get the drug, how much it will 
cost, and what needs to happen before the first batch of marijuana is 
legally distributed in the state.

HUDSON - Some community leaders in southern New Hampshire refer to 
medical marijuana dispensaries in the same breath they use to talk 
about strip clubs and casinos.

It's controversial and would require a lot of forethought in 
planning, zoning and community impact, they say.

Finlay Rothhaus, chairman of the Merrimack Town Council, said the 
issue struck him the same way an "exotic dancing place" would when 
asked if he would consider a dispensary in his community.

"I'd compare them. They're similar things," he said. "If communities 
want them, they'll allow them. If they don't want them, they'll zone 
them so they go into certain areas and so on."

Hudson Town Administrator Steve Malizia agreed, reflecting on the 
time when Green Meadow Golf Club considered bringing in a casino.

He said if Hudson residents were presented with establishing a 
medical marijuana dispensary, he imagines it would spark a similar debate.

"That certainly brought out its opponents and proponents," he said. 
"I have no way of knowing if it would be well-received or poorly 
received. ... I'm sure that you'd have a mixed bag."

Both representatives for Hudson and Merrimack said a marijuana 
dispensary, or "alternative treatment center," is worth considering.

It's too early for anyone to present concrete plans to open a 
dispensary. That day is more than a year away at the earliest.

The legislation proposes a maximum of four dispensaries throughout 
the state, which would have to be spread out.

The bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Donna Schlachman, D-Exeter, said she 
didn't consider exactly where these centers would go when drafting 
the bill, which she took over from former Rep. Evelyn Merrick when 
she lost her re-election bid.

"The grow site and the dispensary is not necessarily the same place, 
which is another consideration," Schlachman said.

Schlachman pointed to an old paper mill in Groveton that has been 
considered as a growing destination. But she noted no site, placed 
either in urban or rural locales, would be designated without high 
security and regulation set in place.

"One of our primary concerns was to make these places so they were 
not easily accessed by anybody," she said.

"Security would be around and know who could go in and out of them. 
Everyone going in would have to carry a card, identification and 
such, and communities would have input. I would hope they wouldn't be 
passing legislation to bar them, but there will certainly be input 
for the stakeholders, as well as for the public."

Milford Town Administrator Guy Scaife said he would be open to a 
proposal for a grow site or dispensary in his community, although he 
said he believed it would be a long shot if one came to his town. And 
Scaife said he wouldn't equate this facility to that of a liquor 
store or an entertainment facility that may turn some heads.

"There's a danger when you start trying to stereotype things," he 
said. "I'm going to assume it's going to be properly controlled. I 
think it would be an error to assume otherwise."

In Nashua, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau said in an email she hadn't looked 
over the legislation yet and, "Based on that, I have not formed an 
opinion at this time."

When The Telegraph emailed her the legislation, she declined to respond.

Ward 9 Alderman Dan Moriarty urged caution if such a proposal were to 
come before Nashua for consideration.

"This is significant change in policy," he wrote in an email. 
"Mistakes are inevitable. Until our state has experience with the new 
process and infrastructure, I would choose to err on the side of 
caution, keeping safety and legalities in mind."

Scaife said before New Hampshire community officials react 
negatively, they should look at what other states have already done 
in monitoring and regulating their dispensaries.

Nashua Alderman-at-Large Barbara Pressly said she would like the 
mayor to designate a legislative liaison to attend some meetings in 
Concord and learn a little more on the subject so the city can be 
ready if a proposal comes before the aldermanic chamber. She said any 
proposal for Nashua would have to be considered thoughtfully.

"The most important thing is for the city to set its own rules and 
boundaries before there is an applicant," she said. "I think the city 
should sit down and decide where and how they want these facilities 
to be placed. It is important that we as a city participate in the process."

Schlachman said when the governor signs this bill, the state 
Department of Health and Human Services will work on reviewing the 
matter and setting up administrative rules.

Cards for patients will be issued, although they won't be able to use 
them at dispensaries until they're established in communities some 
18-24 months from then.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom