Boston City TV, MA City of Boston Cannabis Board, 2 May 2023

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From YouTube: Cannabis Community Meeting | Brighton | Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, 7 p.m.

Description

Neighborhood Liaison Name: Frank Mendoza
Host Neighborhood: Brighton
Date: 5/2/2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Applicant Name: HVV Massachusetts Inc.
Address: 1955 Beacon Street
License Type: Co-located recreational and medical dispensary

A

Foreign good evening, my name is Frank Mendoza from the mayor's office of Neighborhood Services. Thank you all for joining us tonight. I do want to emphasize that I'm here tonight to facilitate the statutorily required. Community cannabis, community outreach. This is an application at 1955, uh Beacon Street, operated by Happy Valley. This meeting is scheduled until 9 pm any comments that there was not time for can be emailed to me afterwards and the Cannabis board. I will put my email into the chat right now. Okay, foreign.

A

Before we begin before, we start I'd like to go over my expectations for tonight's meeting. I know this is going to be a sensitive topic. I want to make it clear that no decisions are being made tonight and at no time will it be acceptable to be disrespectful to anyone. During the meeting, everyone is entitled to their opinion. There is no right or wrong opinion. We are here tonight to try to collect as many comments, questions or concerns for this proposal. I am not here to facilitate debates amongst neighbors or relitigate state legislation.

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I ask that all questions be directed towards the applicant and myself. The applicant will answer all questions related to their proposal to the best of their ability and I will answer questions related to the city's process. The city holds a meeting which is this one and then they'll proceed to the Cannabis board and then to the Cannabis Control Commission at the state, I am unable, or the applicants are unable to answer questions tonight. We will follow up with you after the meeting to get that information to you.

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This is an open comment period, meaning if you do not get called on tonight or if you think of questions that have not been answered. All you need to do is reach out to us and we will work to get you that information. My contact information has been included on the flyer you received to attend this meeting as I mentioned. It is also in the chat. There will be no questions during the presentation once again. This is not a debate on the legalization or morality of cannabis.

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That debate occurred at The, Ballot Box, and we are here today because it was overwhelmingly supported in the city. The applicant will go through the presentation in a timely manner and the remainder of the time will be for questions and answers. Each person will have a maximum of two minutes to speak. I will be timing each once the two minutes have passed. I will then move on to the next question. Thank you for taking the time to to participate in tonight's meeting. I will now hand it over to the applicants for the presentation.

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You Frank I'm, going to share the screen. If that's okay,.

C

And, can you see that all right Frank.

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You I'm gonna make that full screen mode right, um thanks Frank for facilitating the meeting and thanks to all the attendees who who came out.

C

My name is Jeff Drago I'm, a zoning and permitting attorney in Boston and I am here on behalf of my client, a Happy Valley for hvv Massachusetts, Inc, they're known as Happy Valley, and we have Michael Reardon who's. The CEO who's here with me tonight as well, and we are here to talk about a proposed cannabis dispensary, uh both medicinal as well as recreational at 1955, Beacon, Street and Cleveland Circle I in the Brighton neighborhood. Many of you may have come to some of our past meetings.

C

We have been before the community, the civic association and the Cannabis board, and we're fortunate uh to get approved for a dispensary both by the Cannabis board, the CCC and the zoning Board of appeal at 1937 Beacon Street a couple of years back. This is a lengthy process and as we decided to go through the process, a number of hurdles and obstacles had come up, but we got an opportunity to change locations potentially and to lease the property at 1955. Beacon.

C

Street and when we get into the comments and questions I'm sure that it'll come up, but we just want to address some of them right at the onset, we felt that this was a much better location for a number of reasons. One the building is freestanding. It's built out. It's up to code, the the building at 1937, Beacon Street, when we started to get into the construction, was going to end up having to likely be a tear down. This is a much more prominent lot.

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Bigger parcel um and good visibility, but also, most importantly, for both uh the the business owner as well as the community is the fact that there are 13 parking spaces on site that we can utilize eyes for patrons staff and there's a whole section in the back for pickup and Delivery for delivery, and also for pickup and drop off of any vehicles.

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um Ride sharing anything uh like that, and that seemed to be one of the biggest issues we heard when we came out to the community the last time. So we felt this was a much better location for those Reasons I'm going to be sharing the the screen and showing you a presentation. We're gonna, run through uh location uh layout of the building who.

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Valley is, and then we're going to be here to our security plan, uh hiring plan and then answer any questions that folks have so I appreciate your time tonight again this is our team and um we have, as I mentioned, HV Massachusetts, Inc and Michael Ridge who's, the CEO and co-founder and you'll hear from Michael a little later.

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Office is legal counsel and then David Hunt from American Alarm uh he's our security consultant for Happy Valley, but we also have John Hugo from Happy, Valley I believe is going to be on to answer any operations of security questions as they come up and then Michael and myself, just from experience, can answer any of those as well.

C

What's the proposal again, this is to change the occupancy from restaurant. As most of you know, this building was housed by a Dunkin Donuts for a number of years that lease ran out. There was an opportunity for someone else to move in there. That's when this came to happy Valley's attention, and uh so we would be changing that from that commercial, restaurant use to a cannabis establishment. That is what the Boston zoning code determines. This type of use to be and again I had mentioned.

C

This would be servicing both medicinal and recreational Cannabis, the particular zoning sub-district. It is in the Cleveland Circle area, but it's a neighborhood shopping district, and so this, this type of use does require approval, obviously for the cannabis license itself or the dispensary license from the Boston cannabis board. But it also requires relief from the Boston zoning board. However, in this particular location, because it is commercial, it is only a conditional use, variance, that's required. It is not a forbidden use in this area because of the commercial component.

C

The building also falls in the Aberdeen architectural Conservation District we are keeping the building, as is as I had mentioned. This building is in good shape, it's completely built out, so there is minimal work that has to be done. It would all be interior work. The only thing we would be adding, obviously some improvements, but basically signage doors windows. That kind of thing the.

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Large for this kind of establishment, it's uh 7069 square feet and that encompasses both the entire first floor and all of the parking around it and then there's also a full basement down. Stop downstairs.

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We'll be utilizing as well when we get into the floor plans. um This is just again some just a few facts here. uh Just talks about recreational marijuana was approved on November 8 2016 by ballot on the Alston Brighton community supported the legalization with 71 of the community voting in favor. This particular application was applied for both at the Cannabis board, which starts the process, but then at the same time, in conjunction because we are required uh to have so. We.

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Zoning relief because of the conditional use we did file with the Boston inspectional services department on October 13 2002. We received a refusal letter or turned down letter on March 6 2023. This allows us to start the community process. We have had ongoing community outreach. This is our first official a butter meeting. We will continue to meet um for the baia, the Brighton Austin.

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Association, which we have appeared in the past for our other location, continue to meet with our city and elected officials to get their input as well, and all of the Neighbors, which is most important.

C

So marijuana establishment, as I mentioned in this area, is a conditional use that requires a variance. uh There are also a couple of other compliance issues. One is the buffer zone requirement. You're not permitted to be located within 500 feet of a pre-existing public or private school, providing education in kindergarten grades, one through twelve.

C

We meet that boundary and for compliance to not be located within a half of mile of any existing cannibal staff, cannabis establishment, the only one that we would violate, would be our own, and since we are not not going to pursue that as part of this approval, if we were to get approved at the Cannabis board, it would be contingent on relinquishing the rights at our establishment at 1937 Beacon Street, uh which means that we would meet the RB in compliance with the buffers.

C

This is just that you're going to see a few site pictures in the aerial view, so the the pink highlighted area uh is the parcel 1955 Beacon and you can just see the commercial building. That's behind it closely. You'll see some of the parking you can see the area needed parking across the street and around the green line, T Station.

C

We are right along the Green Line stop, which makes it ideal for folks using other modes of transportation, but this particular location having 13 parking spaces for those folks that would be traveling or coming from you know, a little bit of a distance or other parts of Brighton makes it ideal, because you don't find that often in the city, we also have a number of commercial buildings right.

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The NBTA building, obviously behind this, is just a front photo of the existing structure so again that building would remain intact and that's already built out. We would be keeping that building and you can see also in front there's also two-hour parking for about three spaces uh in front of the building as well.

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This is a view across the street, so you've got some residential uh ways away: multi-family residential apartment style buildings and then you've got the commercial spaces in front of it. This is a view looking down Beacon the other way. You can see the green line running on.

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Left our building where the red arrow is on the right side, you can see those parking spaces and there's some more needed parking as you go a little bit further down the street.

C

uh This is just a view up Beacon Street, so we're about 150 feet away from the old location, about 250 feet away from the CBS building. You can just see some of the commercial activity around us.

C

So what are the the proposed operation, the dispensary, so standard, we're 9 A.M, we're proposing to 9 p.m. At this location we have an estimate of daily visitors. If we get into it a little bit further you'll see. Happy Valley has other locations another one in Boston on McClellan highway, so um Michael is good about being able to track uh based on other other locations. We actually have that experience to go by um so our estimated daily visitors are 295 and the approximate length of time for patrons are about 15 minutes in the store.

C

A lot of the ordering now is done online, and so it's almost like Express pickup when you get in there with the Advent of iPads and technology, moves folks right along. So they can really pre-order all of this and it's more of just going inside verifying IDs and safety and picking up and then a little bit just on on who Happy Valley is they're an established marijuana company. They provide consumers with safe and convenient access to tested cannabis product.

C

An educational resources I mentioned through the the team is uh John Gray, John, Hugo and Michael, and these are just some of their other locations in Massachusetts, so 38 great Republic Drive in Gloucester. It's cultivation manufacturing and has retail dispensary. That's a large location at 50 000 square feet, uh two Opportunity Way in Newburyport Mass that has cultivation and product manufacturing, research and development and again large location, 86 000 square feet.

C

And then this is Happy Valley um in Boston another location. This is the one that we got approved in East Boston, uh very similar. It's um both uh recreational as well as medicinal, and that's located at 220 uh William, F, McClellan Highway uh in East Boston. It's got retail dispensary, it's 8, 000 square feet uh and similar to this location does have um provide parking which, uh as I said in a lot of these dispensaries that that's rare. So we now just move on to the site plan, so folks can just see the layout.

C

This is the structure laid out on the site and you can just see all of the parking spaces that are existing, which will remain uh one handicap accessible space.

C

All the other ones are lined, and um this access point, if you look there where the arrows are then so curb cut opening that will remain so folks can pull right in uh to our location, if they're, driving or for all of our pickup and drop off can be uh drop off of product and cannabis can be done on site away from the busy Street area in the back of house in the back of the building.

C

And these are just uh I'm going to try to get through this quickly. These are just the existing floor plans of the Dunkin Donuts, which, as I had mentioned, we're keeping everything the structure will.

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Just changing everything on the inside basement 1627 square feet and we go up to the first floor.

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1795 square feet, existing elevation so again building remains, but this just shows you the front back and sides of the building and then once uh if we were to be approved and built out, this just shows you the layout of the dispensary. So in the basement area there would be a bathroom break room for staff security, office management, office, cooler, freezer uh mechanical rooms and then the vaults that would hold and house the product.

C

We then have the first floor uh and you can see the front entrance. It'll show you better on our rendering, but on the front of the building along Beacon Street would be the entrance Point uh folks would come in. There would be a vestibule area. There would be ID check-in we're going to go through that as we get into security. There's multiple ID checks as folks are let.

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But then that's the showroom, so you can see check-in sales, counter private consult area, two bathrooms security and receiving this again is our signage on the building. So you can see the elevations remain. You can see where we would have the windows and stores and the Happy Valley logo on the.

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That's just a better rendering, so it shows the door on the front, it shows the signage and then, as we go along, you will have some better renderings for folks to see as we get into this a little bit further and then uh this is just talks a little bit about the customer experience. So, as I had mentioned, folks May order everything online for Express pickup. There would be in-store kiosks to allow for a streamlined, checkout process just again to make the experience faster and to get folks in and out safely CCC or cannibal cannabis.

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Control Commission regulations allow Happy Valley to refuse a transaction of signs of diversion, intoxication or abuse are spotted adult use. Customers are limiting to purchasing one ounce of flour or five grams of concentrate per day. Our retail hosts are educated on the attributes of all of our products.

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I'm not trying to focus their attention on the customers needs any customer who's caught attempting to resell any of our products will be permanently banned from the facility and again this talks a little bit about the or in detail about the customer experience and ID verification process, which will always ask so um all customers enter the facility.

C

um They are verified as 21 uh and older for recreational um identification will be verified by using um the electric license scanner, which is important. So that's the highest technology. uh Identification is verified a second time at the point of sale and the identification is verified a third time when the customers handed their order and that is filled and then any use just to point out.

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A use of any false ID would result in a permanent ban from the store and a reform, referral to local law enforcement uh and, again so just uh to talk a little bit about, because we know how important parking and any mention of loitering so loitering is not tolerated. We have a whole security system with cameras and on site to monitor that grounds will be constantly monitored for loitering and suspicious activity.

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Then you know, any illegal parking would not be tolerated in those Vehicles would be removed, um hiring and management practices. This is something we are required to talk a little bit about. Just and folks may have questions, so we want to just uh Jump Ahead uh annual agent registration applies to all dispensary agents.

C

Employees, managers volunteers verifies that employees have a clean criminal history verifies that all employees understand the CCC regulations regarding transportation and sale of marijuana and verifies that the employees understand the CCC protocols regarding dispensing and storage of now, uh diversity and inclusion plan so again goal number one is to recruit and hire diverse groups of employees which we have done in the past and to reflect the old one. Two three five.

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So this area's zip code census data for diversity, uh two to commit to working with minority business enterprises for supplemental service, supplemental Business, Services three meet and exceed the Boston jobs and living wage ordinance and then finally, for commit to working with Community Leaders, with a focus on of hiring minorities and individuals from communities impacted by the war. On.

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C

And this is something that Happy Valley does in all the communities that they have. A presence in uh this is just a lot about our security and American Alarm uh Michael I, don't know, is, is anyone on that wants to talk specifically from our team? If you want me to run.

F

uh Johnny uh Jeff I can't see who's all in the meeting. I, don't know yeah, okay,.

C

So I'll just run through it and then, if there's any questions from folks after uh you know, John can can answer that, but um our security system is compliant with 935 CMR 500 um Happy Valley is engaged American alarm, as I had mentioned earlier, of Arlington Mass for security, design, installation installation and monitoring services for our alarm system. American Alarm has worked closely with the dph NCCC on multiple cannabis related locations throughout Massachusetts to ensure that the requirements are satisfied correctly. All supplies and access will.

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Assets will be secured against external threats and properly monitored to prevent any diversion um security again. Hpv design is a full, fully integrated system throughout the facility that includes hdv videos uh with lighting conditions, high class technology, Access Control devices, dual path, Alarm Monitoring at Central Station um it can. Our detailed security complaint applies with 935 CMR 500 developed in consultation with American Alum. This details how all of the products and assets will be secured against any external threats and best practices to prevent diversion. Then we have training to include industry standards, mode of conduct.

C

I do see John Graham, um just our delivery protocol, so this is um just to ensure, as cannabis is delivered to the facility. uh There's a number of monitoring devices and checks that we go through. One all delivery vehicles are in feature: GPS, monitoring, randomized routes and schedules. Drivers are registered agents with training and secure transport to agents accompany every delivery. Dispensary agents notified in advance of delivery, dispensary agents, meat delivery agents, agents bring inventory into the facility.

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How and weigh inventory to ensure quantities match manifest process takes about 20 minutes depending on the volume, and we anticipate one to two deliveries per week. So we try to keep that minimal at this particular location.

C

I'm, going to talk a little bit about public transportation, which we touched upon, obviously 1955 Beacon is a great location. Obviously, aside from the parking on site, we are riding Cleveland Circle green line, so we have the sea Line running d-line and the beeline, along with the bus routes, 51 and 86..

C

uh We have those 13 on-site parking spaces. We have two hour parking right across the street. We have two hour parking in front of our building right at the entrance um and even as you go down the street, there is two hour parking, um but the hope is over time. This is going to be a local establishment that folks can also want to in this immediate area as well. We also have 89.

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Spaces surrounding building as well as well, and then this is our final slide just to get on parking. This just Maps out where those all those parking spaces are located uh in conjunction with our location uh right down below, um and you know at that we can answer, uh pause and answer any questions that folks have and I. Thank you for listening to the presentation.

A

All right, uh thank you to the team for that presentation. We're gonna go ahead and open up for questions before we start uh I'd just like to remind everyone like we said the questions will be directed to myself or to the applicant. uh If you don't have your question answered or think of a question after this thing is over, you can always put it in writing. Send it to myself. My email is already in the chat, but I'll put it in again.

A

I will either forward it to the applicant to connect you or I will answer it myself. If it's something related to the city that I can answer, um but just because your comment wants an answer tonight doesn't mean that it won't be answered ever uh comments and questions made in writing have the same way that those made verbally during this meeting again we're going to keep it two minutes, uh everything's going to remain respectful. Otherwise we will mute. Those comments.

A

um Comments will also be muted that go longer than two minutes. So first can I. Have anybody who received a certified mailer? Who is a a butter within 300 feet, racer hand using the reaction button at the bottom of their screen? I'll give it a couple of seconds. I just want to see those hands raised. First.

A

All right next I'd like to see anybody who is not a butter within 300 feet, but who is within the Cleveland Circle Community to raise their hands as well.

A

And this is only if folks want to speak. If you don't want to speak, that's totally all right. Anybody who's from the larger Brighton Community. Please raise your hand.

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Thank you, and now, if there's anybody who is from outside of the community of Brighton but would still like to speak on the project, please raise your hands at this time.

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uh Again, that button is at the bottom of your screen. If you look for the reactions, button and click on it, you should see a button right there. That says raise hand. You'll click on that and your hand will be raised if you're dialing in by your phone, you can dial Star, 6 and star 9 to raise your hand and to be unmuted again, that's star six and star nine.

A

If you're dialing by phone all right, we have a good amount of hands raids, so we're going to start going through the lists now again, two minutes so the first hand that I see raise is John Lau, so John Lau I've asked you to unmute your two minutes begin. Whenever you're ready.

M

Good evening um this presentation has been good, uh I haven't, heard anything about social Equity or anything about helping minorities. So uh yeah good evening I'm here as a social Equity approved applicant from the state of Massachusetts, to approve to oppose I'm, sorry make sure you've got that on record to oppose Happy Valley at 1955. Beacon Street I have been fighting against Happy Valley, since 2018.

M

first I was to rent my location before Happy, Valley and I applied with the city of Boston before them and I applied with the CCC before them before they tried to apply with the Marianne's location.

M

I have lived within a half mile of the proposed location since 1985. I have been arrested for marijuana. My family has been affected by the War on Drugs I have over 1500 signatures in opposition of High Valley at 1, 1955, Beacon, Street, I, repeat, 1500 signatures, all of which the addresses are from Beacon Street, Calm, Ave, Chiswick, Road, Sutherland Road. All these places that you don't know of I used to go to the Ground Round for lunch. You don't know about the ground round, but.

B

Not many people do.

M

It's been gone for a while, but once again, I have over 1500 signatures in opposition of Happy Valley I have the support of all the business businesses in the area, just to name somebody: opposition, Bin's, Sushi, Cleveland, Circle convenience, Cleveland, Circle Pizza, the Chinese Body Works, nail salon, 7-Eleven and now on the Beacon Street uh Hunan Happy Restaurant energized Pinos Pizza Eagles, Deli, Reservoir Wine and Liquor Kung Fu tea and The Vape shop, where I am located I'm a small business owner since 2018.

M

I've paid over a quarter million dollars in rent I'm, a minority that has been affected by the War on Drugs.

M

You guys already have two locations if I'm correct, Gloucester and East Boston I heard you guys bought the Bank of America right next to me too, and that is a question for you Draco Jeff Drago. Can you answer me if you guys bought the Bank of America right next to 354 Chestnut Hill Avenue? Just because you guys throw all this money at Cleveland, Circle doesn't mean you deserve the area more than a social Equity approved applicant from the state. Thank you very much for your time.

A

All right, uh thank you. I'll pass that over to the applicant answer.

C

Yeah I mean there's a lot of information or comment given I I would say, I didn't hear a lot about why this location wouldn't work. You know we don't have control on who the city or state gives out licenses to. um Obviously we we applied as an applicant before we were approved.

C

um This we feel is a better location not only for Happy Valley, but also the community because of the parking, um but you know I'm not going to get into the merits of why another dispensary did not get approved. I, don't know anything about it, um but you know I, don't know how the community process worked. The city process worked, but um all I can do is answer. Questions about Happy, Valley, um directly, I know Michael. Is there anything else?

C

You know there's a lot in there that you wanted to touch upon.

F

Yeah I think there was a question about whether or not we bought a Bank of America building and that's not was not purchased by our group. Yeah.

A

All right, uh the next race hand that I see is Ava Webster, so I've asked you to unmute your two minutes begin. Whenever you're ready, I'll, give you a one minute warning.

N

Okay uh thanks so much I didn't realize. I would be the first one. um You know we had a long process for for the um location at Marianne's and I would be the first one to admit that this is. This is probably a better location because of um parking and deliveries.

N

There would be a tremendous problem of deliveries right on Beacon Street if, if Marianne's location was used but I'm concerned about this, um you know in the chat there's just a lot of people supporting some other applicant to run this business here, and in my experience from what I have heard from my neighbors, there is a huge neighborhood opposition to any uh pot shop here. Of course, there will always be some people who use marijuana and they disagree, but yeah.

N

We, we really don't need this thing here and I want to be on record as being opposed to it. Thank you and one other thing um when.

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N

Yes, when the store was proposed for Marianne's I, don't remember if it was Happy, Valley or some other outfit, but they proposed Community benefits to some organization outside of Austin Brighton had nothing to do with Cleveland, Circle and I really would like to know in case this goes through and I hope it doesn't, but in case it goes through. What kind of community benefits is this applicant's ex willing to provide? That would benefit Cleveland, Circle Aesthetics and you know welcoming feel for for the neighborhood.

C

Can I answer that Frank just quickly yeah.

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um Well, thank you.

C

Ava for the comments, and yes, it was Happy Valley that was approved and went through the community process at 1937, Beacon Street uh and working with the baia, the elected officials, uh Michael Reardon and Happy Valley made a number of commitments uh to mitigation and the community, and those would all still stand uh at this new location as well. So we are always happy Valley's, always open to working with the community, but.

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Committed to would still stand, and um you know we just feel. Obviously that was approved and would still if this did not get approved. We would still move forward with Marianne's. We feel this is just a much better location, but all of the commitments that were made would stand.

A

Okay, the next hand I see raised is Faye. uh I've asked you to unmute whenever you're ready. Your two minutes begin.

P

Hi, my name is Faye Roop and I live at 2400 Beacon Street um I'm wondering if the city of Boston has contemplated doing any sort of traffic study for the Cleveland Circle area, because the intersection of Beacon and Chestnut Hill was under tremendous scrutiny when they built Waterstone and um the hotel at the time when they built both both um buildings.

P

The intersection of of Beacon and Cleveland Circle was given a d rating with all of these cars now coming into to uh come to Happy Valley I'm really concerned about, what's going to happen to the traffic flow and I, think it's going to make the lives of people who live in the area. Much more difficult. So I'd like to register my opposition and want to know if the city of Boston is considering doing any sort of traffic study.

A

uh Yeah I can speak to that I know. Boston transportation department uh has some initiatives that they're starting to pick up speed with in Cleveland Circle. Soon, if you send me an email, you and I can connect about that. If you're subscribed to my newsletter, then you should already be seeing that information go out there uh once every two weeks, um but if you're not subscribed, you can definitely get you set up with that.

A

um But uh yeah like I said just send me an email and um you and I can connect and I can get you a list of all those uh Boston Transportation programs that will be picking up to speed in Cleveland Circle coming soon. uh The next question the next raise hand I see, is uh e-trudges. So I've asked you to unmute whenever you're ready.

Q

Hi good evening, my name is Ellen chayas I live in the embassy, Road area. I have a couple of security concerns.

Q

um How far I guess. My first question is: how far is the park the beginning of the park? How many feet away is it from Happy Valley? Now we know that there are a lot of baseball games there, especially now during the Spring. What is to prevent a patron of Happy Valley from going into the park and trying to sell his um whatever he bought, how far the security guards going to be um going to be placed?

Q

uh The other question is how how will we, how does one prevent students that that go to school, on Clinton Road and on Reservoir Road from a loitering around waiting for someone to leave and what's to prevent anyone from um actually going into the park and smoking? So those are three questions.

C

Yeah, if you're John yeah sorry, if you could, if you could take that.

I

Hi ma'am um to answer your first question about the kids going to the park and consuming cannabis. That is a uh that's a math law. That's that's! um That's against Law Public consumption! So that's something that the Boston police would get involved with and if, by the way, I'm the I'm, the director of security for Happy Valley, and if that was observed, my staff would contact the Boston Police Department right away and have those people taken care of um the question about loitering around the property, with kids waiting for people to purchase um products.

I

That's also a regulation there's a specific regulation that that prohibits any loading around the property we have. We have policies and procedures in place that um as soon as customer makes their purchase, they are asked politely to leave and if they don't leave again, law enforcement is contacted so by regulations. There's no loitering and like I said public consumption is, is against the log. We would call Boston Police Department right away if we did notice something like that.

A

All right, the next race hand I see, is orfio.com the best for my K. So I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready.

L

Okay, so I I mean I, don't have so many questions, but just more comments, I mean everything that you've said is pretty standard of what you would expect you guys to do as a business. So you're.

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Anything you should you.

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Be doing um I, don't think the area warrants it. uh There's.

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Plenty of ways.

L

You guys can distribute you guys are a huge operation.

L

um Cleveland Circle does not need cannabis. uh You don't need to advertise it on the corner for people to drive by you're, sending the wrong message to kids. uh You're gonna have college kids there constantly just like Marianne's everyone's drinking there's enough package stores.

L

You know if you guys did have the um Bank of America building that's a little more hidden. That would be a good spot for it, but to advertise it right on the corner, like my kids are driving by all all day long. One minute you can say what you want about. You know calling the place when people are smoking, but my kids smell pot and Cleveland Circle they're. You know they've been here. They were born here, they're, 14 and 16. Now you always small pot. There police aren't going to do anything about it.

L

That's just a joke. um You know you. You bring up a lot of other things. Transportation like we don't need people coming into Cleveland Circle to buy pot uh like someone else said: there's delivery places. You know everyone's gonna Park in CVS like they already do. You can see how great the parking is. It's just really everything that you've said. Is smoking mirrors, you just don't need it. There um I have nothing against pot, I've, sold facilities. I know I I I've been in the business through sales of facilities for eight years since the beginning.

A

All right, uh sorry about that, but that is two minutes so we're gonna go to the next hand um next hand. I have race, is PJ's.

S

Shoulders yourself.

A

S

A

C

That's okay, I just want to be clear. So in terms of signage I know it was mentioned advertising. The only thing they're going to see in the building is the Happy Valley logo. No, you know uh signs of marijuana what's sold or anything like that. That's prohibited and then two I, just I just again want to point out that it was. You know: cannabis. Dispensary was approved a few years back in Cleveland Circle, so that's already been approved.

C

We're just looking to change the location uh to what we feel and actually and I know, parking's always an issue, but if you were going to get one of the other, this would actually provide more parking for both staff, as well as anyone that would be coming in on.

D

C

Buy product and the truth of the matter is they're, just we showed you the map, there's just no lines at these places that we own, and this would literally be walking foot traffic and a few cars at a time. Thank you.

A

Okay, uh now I will ask PJ Sheldon to unmute whenever you're ready. Your two minutes begin.

B

Yes, Michelle, then I'm a graduate of Boston College I live about a 20 minute, walk from Cleveland Circle um I go there a lot. I live adjacent to Brighton Center in Boston, College.

A

Bj I'm, sorry, can you come a little closer to the microphone. I pause, your time, but we just can't really hear you that well.

O

uh Can you hear me better now.

A

uh It's a little bit better I think we'll be able to to catch your meaning, but I'll. Stop you! If we, uh if we can't hear you at any point, uh whenever you're ready, you can resume okay,.

O

I'll, try to speak up uh I'm a graduate of Boston College I live 20-minute, walk to Cleveland, Circle I frequent, it often I I know it's already been approved, a location in Cleveland, Circle. I think this is the wrong one. As uh orpio was just talking about on the corner, it's going to be um who well advertised too close to the park with all the uh kids that are using the park. It's going to cause more policing issues, I I know you're not going to be policing the park.

O

So for you to say, if you think, there's a problem, you're just going to call BPD and they'll take care of it is really more of a burden on our community and having it that much in the face of everybody driving by it needs to be more discreet since it's been approved not not front and center on the corner. It's really disturbing to me that this is also so close to the college. I know you've approved a location, but it doesn't need to be this location. This accessible.

A

One minute.

O

Display uh Boston college students uh have a lot of struggles with substance abuse already. They don't need this this this out in front of them. It's just you need a more discreet location. I wish you weren't doing this at all, I think it's a disgrace. It's a disgrace for public health and the welfare of the college students and all the kids that use the park. Thank you.

A

Okay uh applicant, if there's anything you'd like to address there feel free to do so, but otherwise we can move on. To the next hand,.

A

All right, uh the next race hand that I see is Cheryl uh Weinstein, so I've asked you to unmute yourself uh whenever you're ready your two minutes begin. Yes,.

T

My name is Dr Cheryl Weinstein I'm, a neuropsychologist. The research on brain damage associated with cannabis was not available at the time of the approval. The risk of psychosis for young people, cognitive change and cognitive dulling is absolutely um well documented. Mayor Wu needs to come down and explain to us why there needs to be a marijuana site near a public park. There are uh kids can get there by bus, they can get there by two trains. This is absolutely outrageous. Marijuana is good for individuals who have cancer.

T

They can go to Dana Farber, that's very near here. It's good for multiple sclerosis patients and babies with seizures. Otherwise it's bad for the brain and causes cognitive dulling and a very congested Place. uh That was already.

A

One minute remaining.

T

Is was labeled as uh D before the Marriott was built, uh it doesn't make any sense to have cognitive, impaired individuals uh in a busy congested area, and it's the wrong message to our kids. Our society doesn't care about kids and mayor Wu needs to explain why she doesn't care about the kids in this area.

A

All right so uh in case there's any uh confusion. This is this is not a proposal that is being put forth by the mayor's office, we're here to facilitate a community process, uh but this is not going to be under operated by the mayor's office. Nor neither are we here to relitigate whether or not cannabis should be legal. So moving on, to the next hand, we have race, I, see uh Leyland Webster with the race hand, so I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready, your two minutes begin um apologize Leyland.

A

uh If the applicant had anything that they wanted to address, there feel free to do so. No okay, otherwise uh we'll go ahead and go to uh Leyland now uh so Leyland whenever you're ready. Thank.

G

You Frank uh I'm opposed to a dispensary at this location. I agree with the points that Cheryl made it's uh and others who said it's a prominent location. We have a lot of young people around here with a park close by that's not going to be really monitored for What flows in that's coming from the dispensary and then there's a minority of people in our neighborhood.

G

Surely who partake of marijuana I'm, not among that Minority, and so the rest of us had to put up with this with this obnoxious use at that location, when there are plenty of other opportunities, plenty of other places to get marijuana if one needs it, there's a there's, a location in Brookline Cheryl mentioned the Dana Farber, so I'm opposed to it. I want to go on record as saying that I, don't care who's, who's running it at the location.

G

It's too prominent. It's going to be attractive, unsavory elements, one.

A

Minute, you're.

G

Going to be attracting a lot of people, young folks who are just in the area, it doesn't benefit the neighborhood. Thank you.

A

Okay uh applicant, if there's anything you want to respond to there. um Okay, we'll go to the next hand, then uh William, R, Mills, I, see you've, got your hand raised. I've asked you to unmute yourself uh whenever you're ready, your two minutes begin.

A

Are you there William yep, you hear.

U

Me, oh yeah, I hear you okay, so I'm Bill Mills I'm, the director of Community Affairs at Boston College. We opposed this Happy Valley proposal when they were looking to go into the old Marianne's building, um and so we would oppose them going into the the um the former Dunkin Donuts site.

U

um We just don't feel that this is the proper location for a marijuana facility. Many of our students, frequent the Cleveland Circle area. They patronize the businesses in the Cleveland Circle area, and we just don't think that's a good mix. You know, particularly where a great majority of our students are under 21 years of age, there's also a lot of Brookline High students who also frequent that area.

U

You know they're in Pinos and they're in some of the other stores that that are there and so there's a lot of young people that could be influenced by this. So so we're opposed um to Happy Valley going in here. One.

A

U

Yep and I think that's, it I think other people have kind of made. The the point, but you know parking is, is an issue there's 13 spots or whatever number of spots, there's going to be some for employee parking, but there'll be a lot of street parking the whole bit a lot of times you go by there during the day, and you know parking is very difficult, even finding that a meter on Beacon Street. So so, for those reasons you know we're opposed to it. Thank you.

U

They cannot testimony I.

C

Can respond to that Frank sure.

A

C

Quickly so again, this is, uh if folks are underage and uh have fake, IDs they're not allowed into this location. Students underage are not allowed into this location, and we went over in.

V

C

Security plan, uh how the technology verifies all IDs and that is checked closely at three different points. So this is not a place where high school students in underage college students are going to be allowed in or welcomed in at this location or any locations against the law.

A

All right, uh the next race hand I see, is from Phyllis, so Phyllis I've asked you to unmute yourself. Whenever you are ready. Your two minutes begin.

V

Hi, my name is Les Christos, I'm, phyllis's, husband and I live up off of Sutherland Road and I would be opposed to this project. I agree with that Mr Mills that there are a lot of high school kids walk in the area they use Pinos. uh They use a lot of the businesses there and I feel that marijuana is going to be smoked around this establishment in the park and uh I. Just don't think it's good for the community and I have a question for Mr Drago.

V

The uh Mary ants is that all set to go uh that will take their legal problems with that and I just want to be on record Being against this uh part store in the area. I, don't see what community better brings.

V

That's uh that's about it.

C

So, just to answer that question and I appreciate your comments, so we were approved uh there were um there were some legal issues that came up that were filed. While we were sorting that out- and it was just an appeal- um this location uh did become available and uh in looking at it and weighing the parking uh we felt. This was a a better location, so called a happy accident. But if this is not something that the community and the Cannabis award or the zoning board would.

H

C

We would retain our rights to move and keep going forward with the Marianne's location. It's just. This is a much better location for a number of reasons I mentioned earlier here, but the number one being parking, because most of the facilities in Boston and you can check them out- do not have parkings.

A

Okay, the next race hand that I see is from Jameson Brown, so I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready. Your two minutes begin.

W

Hi I'm Jamison Brown I represent the owners of 2001 Beacon Street, which is uh about 30, 000 square foot, commercial office building and um believe we're really the only direct to butter and we actually didn't receive notice. So I'm not sure what happened there. I found out about this meeting from someone else in the community, but we do oppose it. We have a number of small businesses in our property.

W

We have medical uses, doctor's office dentists and we just think it's detrimental to the property and we'll just negatively affect the businesses in our building.

W

And it's also a very public location, I think if it was any further away from this, you know it wasn't so visible. That might be better. That's it.

C

So if I can just talk about a little bit about uh notifications, so we were provided a list and provided all of the uh mailings that went out so every a butter that was on that list got a.

D

Certified mail.

C

As well as a flyering occurred as well, but if you didn't receive a flyer, then a mailing went to the owner of the building as well, so that would have been certified mail and that was sent uh through the the required process uh that the city had asked us to comply with as well. So there were multiple notifications that were sent out.

A

Okay, the next race hand that I see is Peter fried so Peter have asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready. Your two minutes begin.

J

Hello, thank you. I am a 21-year resident of Brighton I live on Notting Hill Road I support Cleveland Circle businesses. This is, which is why I support Jonathan Lau, as opposed to Happy Valley I am not against a dispensary opening up. There is a bar right there. The circle, Tavern um I, would be against Carrie Nation, coming in with her Hatchet and bashing. That up I do not want a carpet. Cracker coming in I have I've seen John turn away underage people at his business, I support and um believe in him.

J

I want to support local businesses, not Carpetbaggers coming from elsewhere. Also, my partner is in total agreement. If you will one minute.

A

S

Yes, I completely agree.

J

um The fact that uh Happy Valley is even in this position, I find unbelievable, because Jonathan Lau started his process five years ago and was turned down because of proximity to the community pool there.

J

How is it possible that a different company could come in and there and then get an approval and and I'm not supporting um that? That is a good reason for disallowing. A licensed dispensary in the area. I do support that, but I only support Jonathan Lau as a long time. Member of the Cleveland Circle business Community. Thank you very much.

A

Okay, thank you. Thank you. uh uh We're gonna go next. We're gonna go to Billy, who has a hand raise Billy I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready, your two minutes will be in.

X

Hi everyone good evening, actually I.

D

X

In the Brookline area as well, the business circle area I'm very close I've, been I've spent. My entire life stopping in the area and I know John I'm interacted his business before he's a wonderful human being he's the exact opposite of these Carpetbaggers trying to go into Cleveland, Circle community and just extract.

X

What do they know about this community and I understand I've, seen the processes for other cities, other parts of Boston? No Community really really wants a dispensary, but why would you want a large corporation going into your community and red stacking? It? Wouldn't you want a local someone, who's been there since the 80s, a small business owner to be part of this rather than I'm. So sorry, Happy, Valley and they're, less than desirable practices and from the online sources.

X

I just disagree with Happy, Valley and I. Think it's disgusting that they're even in the discussion for them.

X

If they're going to be a dispensary, it should be a local person with a valued member of the community that receives the opportunity. Thank.

H

X

A

All right, thank you uh next race hand. I see is that of Brian Matthews. So Brian I've asked you to unmute whenever you're ready.

A

Are you with us Brian.

R

A

A

Unfortunately, we can't hear you uh I will Circle back to you after our next race hand, uh so we will go now to Shannon. Donovan Shannon Donovan I, see you've got a hand. Race, I've asked you've done mute whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin sure.

X

A

X

Hear me: okay,.

A

Hold on a second all right: let's not have cross chatter, um I'm, sorry, Shannon Let's, uh let's give Brian a second and then or is two.

H

A

And then we'll go to you Shannon, um so Brian whenever you're ready hello. Can you hear me yes.

R

We can thank you, oh okay, I apologize uh to the person who was just speaking up and for not having a clear microphone here. um I. Thank you for letting me take a turn to speak briefly. uh I just wanted to say that um I do I, really respect everyone that has spoken before and whomever may speak after me, um but it is true. The debate uh isn't a debate anymore. It has been passed and legalized.

R

Marijuana, um I, I strongly can feel what people are coming from in terms of their opposition uh in regards of living close to the proximity of that location. There is, however, also a liquor store in Cleveland Circle um that has been there for many many years, um which was supposed to be 21 years old to purchase there as well. So uh the debate, it can't be a debate anymore, they've already decided.

R

A certain number of liquor stores means a certain number of dispensaries, and so here we are- and my thing is like a previous person who said um you know, if there's going to be a dispensary, let it be a person who's been in the community for years, who has kids that go to school?

R

In Brookline, who's focused on making sure that the community stays he's, putting his name and reputation on the line, um this other business who, by the way, has very low scores, and indeed, if it doesn't pan out the tuck and run a minute by the locations. This um you know this is uh this is a person's dream that has been uh you know, striving within the community, doing it the right way for many years and to be shunned away multiple times now.

R

If this doesn't work out for him, it's been multiple times he's been let down and I just feel like. Why are we continuing to overlook the local people? uh We get it? You know they legalize it because they want money but they're going to get their money, and this person is going to do the right thing by the community um at this location, and this is what it is so I think we should definitely give him a shot and not this other corporation.

R

That is only coming in because they see dollar signs um and they're not going to care about the community like someone who is going to stay here for years. More uh and thank you for letting me speak have a good night. Everybody.

C

So Frank, if I, can just make one comment again, so this is not about Happy Valley versus another applicant I know anything about the other applicant. It sounds like he's a great person, but Our intention was, you know we were approved for a license. I I, don't know anything about the other application.

C

We don't work for the government authorities to Grant these applications or dispensary licenses or review the applications, but I have no idea what went into that and what the process was like, and we wish him the best we're simply here to talk about relocating from an approved location but 150 feet away to what we felt was a better location because it offered parking and it was near the other, uh mere ants or formal locations. That's what we're really here to talk about it. You.

D

Know we don't know anything about.

C

Another applicant anything about the details of what went into that again, we're just here to to have our community meeting to explain why we're looking at this, we feel is a better location uh both for us as well as for the community, and we understand, if there's another applicant, that you know wants a license and we, you know, obviously wish him the best or the best, but that that's not why we're here, we don't know anything about that. Other application I just want to put that on the record.

A

Okay, uh the next race hand that I have is Shannon Donovan Shannon. uh Thank you for waiting, sorry about the mix up. There I've asked you to unmute whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin sure.

D

I'll be quick um everything that Brian said the the person who spoke before me. I, reiterate. All of that. It just seems like I mean this is still a pretty new industry and it seems unfair to have like a chain store basically coming into a neighborhood where there's somebody there that really wants to do it.

D

That knows the business and has put their whole heart and soul into trying to get this off of the ground only to be met with a wall, and it's not just him I want, of course, I want Jonathan to get it, but anybody- that's just not part of a big conglomerate. Corporation I think, would be better than a big name. Corporation. It just doesn't seem fair, but it seems like somebody's hat is bigger in the ring and it doesn't feel Fair.

D

A

Okay, thank you. uh The next uh raised hand that I see is Dimitri bobenko, so Dimitri I've asked you to meet yourself uh whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin.

A

Dimitri, are you with us, hello,.

Y

How you doing uh sorry about that? um But uh yes, uh I I owned a small business in Brighton and um I, also support uh uh John, lau and uh all the other small businesses. I, don't think it's a it's a great location for a dispensary and down there on uh uh Beacon and chest Chestnut Street, um just I, don't think the parking is added to it enough for uh 13 spots for the employees and customers.

Y

um I think it's gonna cause a lot of traffic and it could even cause an accident uh just uh in that location in that corner. It's mostly residential and um school, and medical facilities and offices, uh but yeah. That's that's all I had to say today and uh I want to give time to someone else to say something else.

A

Okay, okay, uh any! If there's any response, the applicant would like to make.

C

Sure, just quickly again, this is a retail type operation like any business in that area, it's not going to generate any more traffic or bodies and likely we'll be less folks will be in and out faster than even at a restaurant. So.

A

Okay, uh we'll go to the next phrase, hand then, which is uh Donnell senior O'neill Donnell I've asked you to unmute yourself uh whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin.

K

uh Good evening, everyone uh Donald O'neill, serious people, I was just I, was just uh just a little curious on I actually need clarification on the approval, so um did they negotiate? Where was the public um notified on the location transfer with the license itself? At the same time?

K

I guess that's my question um because I see that you've already been approved, we're not no one's arguing that already, um if they are, they shouldn't be arguing that that you've already been approved, but was there any communication with the community about location transfer, and um you know that that's it really in communication with the neighborhood other than this meeting now, or is this the first one.

C

So great question um Danielle, so this this is the first public meeting and the reason being is that the way this is handled not the Cannabis board level, is you need to get a refusal letter or a turn down letter from Boston inspectional Services Department before you can move forward with the process and the application process? So we really had to wait to get our design plans together to file with the Cannabis board than to inspectional Services through for the.

R

C

Letter that outlines the conditional violation that then allows us to reach out to Mr, Mendoza and the city to have a community meeting. So this is our first meeting to describe that which you're asking about, and then we would also be required to go before the Brighton Austin Improvement Association for another two meetings for our community process.

A

All right we'll go to the next race hand, which is uh Eric Eric I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin.

S

Hi good evening, everyone, my name, is Eric um I live in the neighborhood of Cleveland Circle and I've lived here for about 10 years. um I share a lot of concerns of other uh people have stated here. um One thing: I, don't think we touched upon with the parking situation.

S

Is um you know, you're solving a psychotropic substance and then people will be getting into their cars in a heavily populated area, with lots of other drivers, lots of pedestrians um there's a lot of uh people that are hit by cards here in Boston generally um and I, just I I, don't think that's a good idea like if we have to have a dispensary in Cleveland, Circle I would much rather have it be in a non-freestanding less. uh You know visible area without parking. Secondly, I am interested in this Community Education aspect.

S

uh I was taking a look at your website um as a background in Pharmacy, I went to mass College of Pharmacy, and uh you know you have this page talking about medical uses of cannabis and, like the number one uh on the list is cancer, which is just ridiculous. I mean there's no oncologist he's going to tell people to take Canada to treat cancer I think we all know that um just because I have it works in the test tube.

S

Doesn't you know, works in the body and I'm just concerned about what um requirement there is for informed consent of possible risks to users and uh how you would address that if it is a legal requirement and if it's not, would you be willing to uh do that for the uh good of the community thanks?

S

F

So Jeff John Gray would be the most appropriate person to answer compliance issues regarding notice to consent and how the CCC regulates. You know our messaging okay.

C

Miss Johnstone yeah.

I

I'm here, sir, um so we're very tightly regulated by the Cannabis Control Commission um um I just lost my train of thought. What can you just ask the ask one party question again about the the consent.

S

um Informed consent like in in the pharmaceutical industry, uh you know, patients or customers have to be informed of like the side effects of medication. Is there any requirement for that um share that with.

I

We are regulated at what they call patient information, um pamphlets and all our hosts are trained to give people um the information that they're requesting say say a person comes in and they have some sort of ailment such as insomnia or anything like that. We do have. We do have patient information booklets and we got regulated and mandated by this cannabis. Control Commission to hand those out and go over these information uh informational pamphlets with the customer.

I

Excuse me and all our hosts are um well trained and how to discuss issues privately with with medical patients. Things like that and we do have. We do have um spaces in our facility for a private consultation area to speak privately.

I

So if you do have some sort of ailment that you don't want to discuss openly with in the middle of the store, there will be a patient consultation area that you can go and discuss privately, any of any of your questions or concerns or discuss any ailments you might have and what could possibly help your issue.

F

Yeah, so cannabis is a schedule, one drug and therefore it's there is no scientific research, so that has ever been allowed in our country. So we don't have.

B

F

Data as it relates to uh patient trial studies and stuff like that, so it was just not a pharmaceutical type situation where a prescription has been issued, and then you have an interaction with that. It's just a it's just not the way that the industry is operating.

A

Okay, uh has anybody who has already excuse me who has not already spoken? uh Okay, yep I, see I, see we have a race Hand by 617-909, uh so I've asked you to unmute yourself. Whenever you are ready, your two minutes will begin.

E

Yes, hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can thank you all right, yes and yeah. um So I live in Brighton, but not in the Cleveland Circle area uh parking um and Mr Drago. When he first talked about the visitors could park there and all that stuff um in the B1 handicap space. But he also mentioned about staff. I mean staff shouldn't be packing. There, I mean how many people are going to be working there.

E

There's six people so anyways um handicap parking which I have medical marijuana, I've gone to aneta in Brookline, the corner of Route 9 and in Washington Street, and when I first went there they didn't have, even though they've advertised they didn't have handicap parking. So I went to the person in Brookline, Town, Hall I was I, think the next day or two days later they had parking and they had parking right in front. So the three spaces I'm just you know, there's three spaces in front. That would be helpful and yeah.

E

Bookline has police out there. So I don't know if you always gonna have a policeman out there, but in Brooklyn they seem to always have a police officer. There so those spaces the three spaces in front.

E

Maybe that could be that handicapped um now you say the bathroom you imagine there's a bathroom in the basement, but is that just the staff, uh so it probably is but I don't know, is that just for staff I just got some other theater and um let me see what else I have here um again: I'm, not really I. Think the traffic is the main problem right there also so I think the location. um Now, what's the next step, you said: does this get voted by? Who actually is the final step that opposes?

E

You mentioned the uh uh Often by an improvement, so I'm going to talk about the parking uh and the uh the bathroom and who actually approves this, and thank you very much. Okay,.

C

Frank can I answer that sorry, just just quickly. So again, we can certainly look at adding uh the the one dedicated uh space that I pointed out for handicap is just big enough for a van, so that that that's why we pointed out. We can certainly look at adding uh a few additional spots um and again this isn't meant for staff. It's just that. There's enough parking on this site, which I had mentioned, is unique to most of the sites in Boston because they don't have any parking.

C

So obviously um customers would be first and there's enough area for pickup and drop-off for Rideshare, which most locations don't have the ability to have that as well. But we also feel that with these local dispensaries and more and more of them are opening up, this becomes more of a local retail dispensary Shopper folks can walk to it and take public transportation because they live right in the area. That's the vision and that's what's been happening. Is these open up more and more across the city? um The bathroom question there?

C

No one is allowed except staff in the basement area. So that's why that has a private bathroom, but I pointed out in the plans that there are restrooms um upstairs as well, so those that that would have access to, um and then your third question was the process.

C

um So tonight is on a butter community meeting. uh We would also appear before the civic association, the baia for two meetings and then, uh ultimately, this is decided by the Cannabis board, so the Cannabis board we would appear first and they would either for us or deny our application or they could defer it. It's up to that, uh we're hoping they approve it, and at that point we would forego pursuing our application or moving forward with the location at 1937 Beacon.

C

So if we were approved, we would give we would forego the other one, but ultimately we would still have to go before the Boston zoning Board of appeal for the use, variance, that's required. So.

P

C

Is a lending process, it's the Cannabis board for the licensing. If you will and our host Community agreement, that's drafted with them in conjunction with the law department and then after we were approved and then ultimately it's the use permit um by the Boston Zoning Board of appeal and even after.

I

C

There's an appeal waiting period, there's uh getting all your building drawings together after that for ISD inspectional services is there's construction build up so we're a long ways away, but the authorities in this process are the Boston cannabis board, the um Zoning Board of appeal and then on the state side, the CCC, the Cannabis Control Commission.

A

All right, I'm, going to take a look through in case anybody's, raised their hands on their camera again, but uh seeing nothing we will jump back to regular race hands, so evil have asked you to unmute whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin.

N

Thank you um well, Frank, actually, I have a comment that is directed at you. As the city representative, you mentioned that we are not supposed to question. You know the legality of this business and so on and I understand that you know most people voted for for a legalizing part, but um that was with the understanding that we just didn't want young people to have criminal records.

N

It didn't mean that everyone who voted for decriminalizing pot really wanted a big industry to be created, and um the city has the responsibility to have a policy that promote you know wholesome useful uses in our town centers when I go to college corner. There is a lovely booksmith store with with books and gifts to buy all kinds of charming inviting businesses and for some reason, Cleveland Circle is supposed to be a place where only my numbing things are.

I

N

You know we have. We have the of course the liquor store bars, um Vape Shop, there's a big advertisements for cigarettes and on the convenience the store wall in on Chestnut Hill Avenue.

N

It is really very um discouraging for those of us who are trying to elevate this area to constantly deal with this onslaught of of things that are just so low brow, I I, don't understand why can't we aspire to be a little better, so I the people like who live here don't have to go to college corner, to have a nice experience and, having said that, I really would like to know what the process is from now on.

N

um The the previous location was approved, but I understand that after two years or it's been probably three years by now, uh approvals like that expire, so I do not believe that they could just open um this thing at the Marianne's at the Marianne's location and.

A

All right, that's been two minutes um so again, we're not here to relitigate whether or not cannabis will be legal in the state of Massachusetts. That's just not within the scope of this meeting. This meeting is to discuss. uh You know anybody who might have comments, questions or concerns regarding to the merits of this particular proposal. uh Regarding the process, uh I know, Jeff just went through that with the previous question uh Jeff, if you'd like to re repeat that um just one more time the process for uh this um this this particular proposal.

C

So thanks Frank, so right now we are in the community process piece of the uh uh dispensary process as a whole. uh After we complete Community process, which would include this meeting uh meeting with the local civic association for a vote, which is the baia, we would then move on to the Boston cannabis board um and ask if they would grant us uh the dispensary license which really comes down to a host Community agreement that we would have to work out with the law Department.

C

We would then move on to the Boston zoning Board of appeal uh once the Cannabis. If we were approved by the Boston cannabis board, um and uh if we were approved by the board of appeal, uh we would wait the appeal period and then are you know filing for a permit to start construction and, in the same breath, also informing the CCC of the change and they already know, but um everything runs to the CCC anyway, um and so that would that would pretty much be it.

A

Thank you uh next race hand. I have is Eric whenever you're ready, Eric. Your two minutes will begin.

S

Hi um I just uh hi, sorry um yeah I just wanted to respond to the the response that I got about my question. um There are clinical trials into marijuana if there aren't. Where is this information coming from that you're advising medical patients about who are the people advising uh medical patients? Do they have medical backgrounds and the the thing about informed consent of risks of using marijuana? How come that isn't automatically provided to all customers, recreational or uh Medical.

F

Once again, we're not selling prescription drugs that went through clinical studies and come with all of the information that would be typical of a pharmaceutical transaction between a patient, a doctor who prescribed another son and whatnot. What we provide is information as to the anecdotalical effects and relief, as described uh through uh patients and customers who have who have consumed the products in the various ways in which they are able to consume and con through various forms of of consumption. So a lot of it is what is inedible yeah and how is an edible made.

F

So we talk about formulations. What went into that product and and the anecdotical type of relief that certain patients and customers have provided feedback on? That is uh how the industry operates.

A

Okay, uh the next race hand I have is from Cheryl, uh so Cheryl I've asked you to yourself whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin.

T

uh Again, I sincerely think we need to invite the mayor to come down here. We can get scientists from Mass Mental Health Center to also meet to educate about what it means for young people to be exposed to marijuana. This is an environment where it is filled with young people. The mayor needs to take ownership of this. It's her responsibility, not the Cannabis board, who doesn't know anything about the current science of marijuana.

A

Okay, uh the next race hand I, have is uh Peter fried so Peter I've asked you to meet yourself whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin.

J

Thank you, I just I just want to reiterate my support for Jonathan Lau to be the license holder for a legal dispensary in Cleveland Circle as a long time. Okay, Peter.

A

Remember, we've heard a lot of people in speaking uh in support of Mr Lau already, do you have anything new that you'd like to add relating to this particular proposal, foreign.

J

My question earlier: what's her answered.

A

Are you there? Yes, we can hear you here.

J

A

You'd like answered.

J

How Jonathan Lau could have been denied.

J

um Five years ago or four years ago, due due to proximity to the swimming pool, which uh I wouldn't know where she is, but how uh somebody not from the Cleveland Circle business Community, could come in and then get an approval. That makes no sense, and it smacks of discrimination to me or perhaps even political.

J

A

Okay, well uh again, you know we are here discussing this particular proposal, uh which again has neither been approved nor rejected by the board if they haven't had their hearing date. Yet we've gone over the process a couple of times, um but if you'd like to connect with me, you know we can. We can rediscuss that process again.

A

um You know, if there's any additional questions that uh that you would like answered after this meeting. uh The next raise hand I see is uh from Zoom users, so Zoom user I've asked you to unmute whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin.

A

Zoom user I've uh sent a second request for you to unmute whenever you're ready. You may begin your two minutes.

Z

Hi, can you hear me sorry? Yes, we can.

Z

Thank you I think what I want to bring up to everyone's attention is the fact that, with a dispensary, it's just like any bar or liquor store the way to keep the miners and students and stuff away from it is all going to be and how it's being ran the employees that have to check IDs the security you're going to get a better level in that area by somebody who is local and directly affected in his own Home and Community, by not doing a good job and I, don't want to get cut short because I do support John Lau, but I support that, because of those reasons he is local anything that his business does.

Z

It is going to affect his home and his family directly. This larger company that has no bearing in the community is only about the money that they can bring into their pocket and they they show no history in any of their other businesses and locations of not affecting or showing a positive effect to them.

Z

So that's all I wanted to say is just that. You know there are special steps and and being an employee or a company that is moves into any community and when there are guidelines that they have to follow, it is important to have a company that's going to be in there and somebody that's going to be in there that is directly affected by the decisions that they make not only for the bottom line, but for the community around them and when they live in it, they take that into consideration.

Z

A

Okay, thank you. um I'm, going to move on to the next race hand that I see uh from Phyllis Christos Phyllis I've asked you to unmute yourself whenever you're ready, you're, two minutes away, I.

V

I, just uh I I'm, probably repeating myself but I'd, be remiss and not stating uh that the area of Cleveland Circle has so much open space, and you know they, you have the skating. We have the Pack, you have the reservoir, you have a ton of young kids for Brookline High, a ton of young college students that live in the area and, let's be honest, they're going to be getting marijuana and they're going to be smoking in the area they're not going to smoke it in their houses.

V

You know, as a you know, as a child in the 60s: that's what we did. We would get our booze and our marijuana we'd go in the woods. We'd go in the open spaces and with smoke it's a terrible location. The families lived here for 80 years, we've had the same votes and I know what I'm talking about I understand it's going to go through, there's not much. We can do about it, but uh you know I'd be remissing, saying that I think it's a terrible idea for the area. The college students are there.

V

They're drunk cities is packing them in. What's going to stop them from going over to the to the uh pot shop and getting some part and walking around God I, don't want another kid to end up in the reservoir, so in a minute terrible idea! That's that's about it! Thank you, foreign.

A

Okay, thank you. uh The next phrase hand I have is from uh d d e d e I've asked you to unmute yourself. Whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin.

H

Hi um I just want to say that this is a terrible location because of the proximity of public space, especially for children. There's the Beaconsfield playground right behind um the park, Cassidy Park the swimming pool opened in the summer and then the ice skating rings. You know in the winter and then the whole Reservoir the park. So um there's really bad traffic in this area already I'm sure you guys been talking about that and that just add to it and it's a really negative thing for the community.

H

A

Okay, thank you. um The next race hand I have is sal. Sal have asked you to meet yourself whenever you're ready. Your two minutes will begin.

AA

Hey Frank, how you doing so, I guess: I just have a procedural question right.

AA

So this this meeting was part of a process um so like were you keeping a scorecard and you go back and you tell the neighborhood services The General the general consensus on whether people liked it or didn't like it or or it just goes down on the books as a meeting.

A

No, so uh part of what our office does is facilitating these meetings is testifying to the board as to the outcome of the butters meeting regarding the community stances. If we have any particular number of letters of support or opposition, we'll detail that number to the board as well, um just like we do for the zoning in for the licensing boards.

AA

So you were kind of keeping track of like if it's a 50, 50 split support against or more or less or.

A

You you could think of it. That way, um I mean. Will you know reports of the board, the number of people who are in support or the number of people who are in opposition?

A

um The general reasons for that supporter opposition um things of that nature? Okay,.

AA

A

Okay, uh the next race hand I have is from orpheo or if you have to ask you to unmute yourself, whenever you're ready, your two minutes will begin.

L

So I just want to add. um You know: I've lived here since, like 91 92. and there's always going to be drug dealers in Cleveland Circle.

L

That being said now that it's legal, you guys can all coexist, but for years you probably didn't know there were drug dealers, including Circle. We don't need that there to know that there's a dispensary without you know, and people will still know that it's available whether they make it available through restaurants or they make some sort of Deal or have them team up with a the liquor stores.

L

The kids are going to get it either way.

L

um Just because it's enclave and circle it doesn't mean that the kids aren't are are not going to get it for that matter.

L

um It's just keeping it away uh out of sight out of mind so that they're, not thinking about it. One minute and I, don't know what we can do about the smell. But that's just it's an unfortunate um byproduct of of the of pot same thing with nips on the ground people drinking in public you're, going to have that so I mean I, say eliminate it all, but society's not ready for that. Yet and um yeah.

D

There's just smarter ways.

L

We can do it and they can still make all the money we just need to put in better businesses in Cleveland Circle than liquor stores and pot shops.

L

G

Know put in a daycare.

L

um That's that's it. Thank you.

A

Okay, thank you. Well, uh seeing no additional raised hands we'll, go ahead and conclude this meeting for tonight again, my name is Frank Mendoza, also in Brighton liaison for the mayor's office of Neighborhood Services, uh and this is a publicly recorded meeting. So, if you want to see a copy of this meeting, uh send me an email.

A

Similarly, if you have a comment to make or question to make that you think of after the fact that I can connect you with the applicant, if it's something city related and maybe I can answer it myself, otherwise, thanks everybody for attending this evening at this meeting and have a good evening goodbye. Thank you.