Medical marijuana law gets first test in Warren
Brothers want to start growing operation on Franklin Street
Warren’s new medical marijuana law gets its first test Wednesday night, when two brothers appear before the Warren Zoning Board of Review seeking a special use permit that would allow them to start …
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Medical marijuana law gets first test in Warren
Brothers want to start growing operation on Franklin Street
Warren’s new medical marijuana law gets its first test Wednesday night, when two brothers appear before the Warren Zoning Board of Review seeking a special use permit that would allow them to start a growing operation in a commercial building on Franklin Street.
Michael and Jeff Motta, applying under the business name Natural Green Choice LLC, hope theirs is the first business approved for limited commercial growing here, following the Warren Town Council vote in April that made it legal in some zoning areas, with a special use permit. The brothers' plan is to sell their product direct to the three compassion centers now open across the state, and they have already applied for and received a “micro-license” from the state Division of Business Regulation (DBR).
“We’re really anxious to get started,” said Michael. “We just want to get in there and start growing for the people who need it.”
Warren is the first town in the East Bay to allow limited growing of medical marijuana, albeit with heavy regulations. It is only allowed in certain zones (residential, farm conservation and outdoors not allowed), and operators must take lengthy steps to ensure security.
The Mottas, both of whom have a hereditary degenerative back disorder that causes chronic pain, have been medical marijuana patients for several years and also grew cooperatively for other patients, which is allowed under state law.
Nearly a year ago they applied to the DBR for a license and so far have sunk about $20,000 into their application, waiting for Warren to approve commercial growing here. Mr. Motta said he is glad the council finally approved the practice, after the Bristol Town Council last summer rejected the idea of allowing commercial growing within its borders.
Mr. Motta said he understands some of the wariness to commercial marijuana growing here in Warren, but said there is nothing to fear:
“It’s not going to be people coming off the street,” he said. “We’ll be selling directly to compassion centers; nobody is going to be coming in or out except us. “
