MAC: More on medical marijuana licenses

Did you know …

According to a recent article in the Boston Globe, a 13-person team called G2 New England, Inc. has applied for a medical marijuana dispensary license that was filed in Norfolk County. The team includes people with medical, security, farming, and business backgrounds. They have a conditional lease for a building in Randolph and have $1 million in capital, double the state’s minimum requirement. They hope to open an environmentally friendly combination growing site and dispensary that would use solar power to run the grow lights. The dispensary would support 3,000 patients receiving the maximum amount of marijuana defined by the state. Norfolk County lists 12 license applications, and all 12 have been approved. In fact, 158 of the 181 applications made the first cut, according to the statewide list released by the Department of Public Health.

Last fall, voters in Massachusetts approved a ballot initiative that allows health officials to register up to 35 nonprofit marijuana dispensaries in the first year with at least one, but no more than five, dispensaries per county.

The town of Canton’s temporary moratorium for medical marijuana treatment centers is only effective until June 30, 2014. The state Attorney General’s office has disapproved and deleted the second year of the moratorium, which would have been effective from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. The AG’s office struck down all such moratoriums over one year, ruling that towns can regulate but not prohibit the medical marijuana centers.

According to some applicants, they have encountered banks that will not lend to them, insurance companies that will not insure them, and real estate companies that will not show buildings to them, but with $1 million in capital, money talks and, well, you know what MAC knows. Problems can be overcome. Don’t forget the state says that medical marijuana will be a $1 billion industry.

Despite a viral message that is currently circulating stating that those of you on Medicare will see your Medicare insurance premium increase from the present monthly fee of $120.20 to $247 in 2014, this is not true. Medicare officials project the basic premium will be less than half that. However, the law will eventually cause 14 percent of seniors with incomes over $85,000 a year ($170,000 for couples) to pay higher “income-related” premiums, up from 5 percent currently.

Talk about costs going up, it soon could cost you 49 cents to mail a letter. The Postal Board of Governors wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents. If approved by the Independent Postal Regulatory Commission, it would become effective January 26, 2014.

The Massachusetts House and Senate recently voted to repeal the unpopular 6.25 percent tax on computer and software services. The estimated $161 million tax loss would be hopefully offset by tax collections running higher than anticipated for fiscal year 2014. If not, look for more tax increases somewhere.

The Senate recently rejected an amendment that would increase the current tax of 24 cents per gallon of gas to 29 cents per gallon. The tax was already hiked by 3 cents per gallon on July 1, 2013.

Seventy-four percent of Canton Public School students scored proficient or higher in science and technology on their MCAS, while the state average is only 53 percent. In English language arts, 83 percent of Canton students scored proficient or higher, while the state average is 69 percent. In mathematics, students in Canton scored proficient or higher at 72 percent, with the state average at 61 percent.

There will be a legislative hearing on a bill that would require companies with 10 or more employees to offer one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (up to 56 hours). The Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hear testimony from both sides.

Gatehouse Media, Inc., owner of the Canton Journal, the Patriot Ledger, the Brockton Enterprise, and more than 150 weekly newspapers and Wicked Local websites in Massachusetts, has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The company said it still intends to continue day-to-day operations under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. It will still be “business as usual.”

One final (sports) note, this past Sunday, we witnessed two fantastic finishes in Boston sports as we watched both Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox deliver under tremendous pressure, marking one of the most dramatic days in Boston sports history. There was really no way that those two games should have been won. It was snatching victory in the last seconds. It was the remarkable resilience and the will to win under complete adversity that was really truly amazing. It was two stunning victories. We are very fortunate to have had athletes that convey “Boston Strong” in the fashion of Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, and now joined by Tom Brady and David Ortiz. What a sports day in Boston on Sunday, October 13.

What is joy? A sunbeam between two clouds, and Boston sports saw that sunbeam twice on Sunday, October 13.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=22690

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Oct 17 2013. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.