Pubdate: Fri, 14 Feb 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.

THE REAL DRUG SCAM

Politicians are now dancing as fast as they can away from the newly 
licensed pot shops scheduled to open in their neighborhoods. And it's 
not pretty.

Causing the most uproar is the "medical" marijuana emporium slated 
for the heart of Back Bay on Boylston Street not far from the Public Garden.

The Back Bay Association, which represents some 400 businesses in the 
area, was totally blindsided by the process, never hearing a word 
about the potential location or the signed lease for the property 
entered into by Good Chemistry of Massachusetts, which won the license.

Jaime Lewis, chief operating officer for Good Chemistry, told the 
Boston Globe, "I just didn't want to alarm people without a need 
because we didn't know if we would get a license."

Well, that ought to tell you something right there.

The Boston Courant, which covers Back Bay, contacted most of the 
local political actors and got responses that bordered on the 
laughable. Rep. Jay Livingstone, whose district ends on the other 
side of Boylston Street, told the paper he's seeking more 
information. The pot shop is in the district of Rep. Aaron Michlewitz 
who said, "Like any other business, there is a zoning process that 
I'm sure will give the community the appropriate opportunity to let 
its voice be heard."

City Councilor Josh Zakim was contacted by Good Chemistry before he 
was sworn in so he too said it's not his district (which is a stone's 
throw away), but that of Council President Bill Linehan, who plans 
to, well, hold a hearing. Of course he is. Last year's Council 
president, Stephen Murphy, actually made the mistake of putting his 
thoughts in writing in a letter of "non-opposition" that became part 
of the license application.

"It is my belief that reputable and safe RMDs (Registered Marijuana 
Dispensaries) and cultivation facilities, when located at appropriate 
sites within designated areas of the city, should be permitted in 
accordance with state law and upon taking into consideration the 
views of the surrounding community."

The letter was dated Nov. 20, two days after the lease for Boylston 
Street was signed.

Murphy told the Globe he didn't know the location and now feels 
"used." Councilor, we feel your pain. Now the Department of Public 
Health might have to revisit the issue because it apparently never 
verified supporting documents in the license applications. Gee, 
dealing with people who want to deal drugs. What could possibly go 
wrong with that?
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom