Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 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.
Author: O'ryan Johnson and Richard Weir
Page: 22

DOWNTOWN POT SHOP APPROVAL BURNS ABCD

Action for Boston Community Development - an anti-poverty 
organization - is taking a not-in-my-backyard approach to the 
proposed downtown location for a medical marijuana dispensary.

"What I'm concerned about is that it's everybody's backyard," said 
ABCD president John Drew. "You could probably have situated this shop 
in a better location. You're talking about in the middle of Boston. 
. I think it's a prescription for some real problems."

The state Department of Public Health last week gave a green light 
for Patriot Care Corp.'s proposed pot shop at 21 Milk St. in the 
Financial District to advance to the next step in the process.

Drew is urging the DPH to reconsider its approval, noting ABCD's 
recovery high school, where youths recovering from drug abuse attend 
classes, is close by, as is St. Francis House and the New England 
Veterans Shelter. Attempts to reach the St. Francis House were 
unsuccessful. Andrew McCawley, CEO of the New England Veteran's 
Shelter, declined to comment.

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said a lengthy process awaits the 
proposed marijuana dispensary.

"There is a process we are going to follow in the city of Boston," 
Walsh said. "I am going to wait and let the process take its course."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom