Marijuana host community agreements

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Hampshire County marijuana pacts vary

Easthampton

In Easthampton, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle has executed five agreements using input from the Cannabis Control Commission, the Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts Municipal Association, she said. But unlike Northampton, there are a variety of terms and conditions in place in the agreements, in addition to 3-percent community impact fee.

For INSA, the recreational marijuana retailer that opened in the city on Saturday, a $10,000 payment to the city was required within seven days of the April 24, 2018 signing of the agreement, though there is no language requiring money go explicitly for marijuana education and prevention, according to the documents.

For other companies, like Apical, Inc., Herbology and Holistic Industries, the agreements require a year one community impact payment of at least $75,000, or 3-percent of gross sales, whichever is larger. LaChapelle said there are reasons for these payments.

“We went back and forth about the amount of payments and how they come in,” LaChapelle said. “Our position was impact fees should be more intense in the first couple of years.”

Holistic Industries’ agreement also requires $10,000 for marijuana education and prevention, while Apical’s outlines charitable donations it will make, including $2,500 to the Emily Williston Memorial Library, $2,500 for city schools and $2,500 for public safety programs, with another $2,500 for a drug abuse program if there is a measured increase in addiction among teenagers.

LaChapelle said cannabis provides a unique opportunity for economic development, and that the agreements have to meet the wants and needs of both the city and the companies.

“I feel we came to a good common place given what directions have come from the Cannabis Control Commission, ” LaChapelle said.

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