After a heated discussion about racial diversity and equity in Brookline’s recreational marijuana industry, the Select Board narrowly voted this week to give Mission MA permission to open a new pot shop in town.
Chairman Bernard Greene was the casting vote, and Slot Gacor Hari Ini indeed the only vote – three other Select Board members present chose to abstain and Board member Nancy Heller was absent.
Mission has additional locations in Georgetown and Worcester and the parent company operates in California, Illinois, Michigan and Washington. Mission is scheduled to be in Commonwealth Ave. Opened 1024 and is Brooklines’ third adult marijuana retailer after New England https://www.nailsalonhilliard.com/ Treatment Access and Sanctuary Medicinals.
The appointment-only retailer has been working on the Brookline opening since 2018 and recently went through the special approval process with the zoning board.
More:Mission MA on the way to opening a new Brookline Pot Shop
The company has hired former Boston councilor and Brookline High School alumnus Tito Jackson to advise them on diversity – a hot topic in the recreational marijuana world, given the diverse effects the war on drugs had on color communities.
Jackson appeared on the mission team Tuesday and said the company had https://www.herbalpremium.net/ minimum hiring goals to include at least 30% black, indigenous and colored people, 50% women, and 20% residents with a cannabis criminal record.
Jackson said the mission will also focus on community engagement and hopes to use minority-owned services.
Greene interviewed Mission representatives about the ownership of the company and noted the lack of diverse high-level representation.
“It’s nice to have a diversity program, but it’s undermined by the https://drakortv.org/ fact that you’re not a diverse group of owners,” he said, adding, “I don’t like companies coming in and talking about diversity, but they are pure white company. There is only one problem. “
Mike Ross, an attorney for Mission, said the company understands the need for diversity.
“That’s why we called in Tito Jackson to help us. So we put together a solid plan, ”he said. “It is not enough just to open it. To be very successful, to be the best in the business, you have to do a lot more. “
However, the mission’s diversity plan wasn’t enough to keep many visitors happy, especially with the city’s penultimate marijuana retail license (the city limited the number of licenses to four).
Some speaking at the meeting advocated Brookline-based Jonathan Lau trying to start his own pharmacy next door on Commonwealth Ave. 1026 to open.
Lau shared how the war on drugs had affected him personally and called on the Select Board to freeze marijuana licensing until the city can draft an ordinance that will help social justice and economic empowerment candidates into the industry to penetrate.
Brookline shouldn’t turn its back on outside of business, said https://www.tipsgameandroid.com/ Arthur Conquest, a member of the town meeting, but it should give preference to the people in the community.
“Let’s help our own first,” he said, adding, “let’s deal with people who haven’t had a chance to be part of this system.”
After working through the sluggish licensing process at city and state level for three years, Mission pushed back against the possibility of a last-minute change.
“How is that fair?” Asked Ross.
Monique Baldwin, the city’s cannabis licensing and containment coordinator, also pointed out that retailers must maintain a lease throughout the licensing process, even if they are not yet allowed to operate.
Selected board members John VanScoyoc, Raul Fernandez and Heather Hamilton suggested that the board delay its vote on the mission’s license until it has a chance to address some of the concerns raised.
“I think we have run out of ways to respond meaningfully to the questions raised and we will limit our options by one more if we approve this tonight,” said VanScoyoc.
While the city is running out of dealer licenses, there are several other categories of marijuana licenses. The Comm Ave Canna, which is on Commonwealth Ave. 1030 is in the process of applying for the last available retail license from Brookline.
Town Meeting could raise Brookline’s license cap, though Baldwin said the city would likely want an ordinance to ensure candidates for social justice and economic advancement benefit.
When it came time to vote on the mission’s license, Hamilton, Fernandez and VanScoyoc abstained while Greene voted in favor.
“Is that actually wearing?” Asked Hamilton.
“Well that’s the majority,” Greene replied.
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