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? - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom