TYNGSBORO — Three companies gave brief elevator pitches to the Board of Selectmen seeking a host community agreement that would enable the winner to become the town’s second retail marijuana sales operation. MJ’s Market’s proposal won the day over two larger, more established companies.
MJ’s Market’s competitors were Nova Farms and Sanctuary.
One key reason for the success of MJ’s Market would seem to be “the yellow house,” a ramshackle ranch-style house on the northbound side of Middlesex Road not far from the New Hampshire state line.
MJ’s Market has a letter of intent with the owner of 409 Middlesex Road to lease the property and put up a new building. The so-called “yellow house” has irritated town officials for some time.
The company also emphasized local ties. It’s CEO, Heath Gaffney, is a graduate of Lowell High School and has a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“We all live around here,” he said.
A letter of support from Darryl Wickens, owner of the Sports Center, accompanied the MJ’s Market proposal. Wickens and his family entered a host community agreement for cannabis cultivation for the old site of the Sports Center.
In February, Royal Group, a certified woman-owned business, said delays in receiving permits from the Cannabis Control Commission, effects of the global pandemic, and alleged discriminatory practices forced it to go out of business and sell its assets to Nova Farms. Nova Farms is the state’s fourth-largest marijuana operator.
Selectmen declined to transfer the HCA to Nova Farms, and opted instead to reopen the process with a tight time frame. The deadline for responses was March 5. MJ’s Market, Nova and Sanctuary submitted proposals by March 5. A fourth company missed the deadline and was not considered.
The other companies also had Middlesex Road in mind for their retail marijuana shops. Nova Farms proposed a retail business at 425 Middlesex Road, and Sanctuary proposed a dispensary at 324 Middlesex Road across from the new Top Line Granite building.
The Nova proposal located its store very close to the intersection of Locust Avenue, where numerous accidents occur each year.
Each company promised the town that they would expedite the permitting process and the licensing requirements of the Cannabis Control Commission.
Nova said it could be ready to open in October because it had done a lot of work already. MJ’s Market said it would work processes in parallel, not sequentially as it has in Grafton, and would be ready to open in mid-December. Sanctuary said it is also in the medical marijuana business, which gives it priority with the CCC and it would open by the end of the year.
“We can’t go wrong with any of them,” Selectman Rich Reault said.
That sentiment was echoed by Chair David Robson and Selectman Ron Keohane. Two members of the board, Hillari Wennerstrom and Steve Nocco, were absent.
Keohane argued for Sanctuary due to its size and finances but agreed that all three proposals were good.
The vote for MJ’s Market was 2 to 1, with Keohane voting against.
This was the second time that MJ’s Market went through the selection process with the town. It was one of the leading contenders at the time Royal Group won.
“We took things to heart,” Gaffney told the board.
They acquired land in Grafton and will open a store there this spring. They also kept in touch with what was happening in Tyngsboro and were ready when Royal Group gave up its effort.
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