Celebrating Catholic Schools Week see page 11
Vol. 29, No. 4
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Friday, January 24, 2020
Cannabis regs evolve as industry takes shape By Barbara Taormina alden continues to finetune regulations and licensing details for the new retail marijuana industry. The Ordinance Committee voted unanimously this week to recommend a $750 fee for retail marijuana businesses applying for a special permit from the City Council. Also, the Malden Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission (CLEC has been discussing possible changes to the city’s cannabis ordinance. After initial interviews held throughout the summer and fall, the CLEC voted to move four of the eight applicants for retail marijuana licenses to the next stage in the licensing process. Misty Mountain Shop, MassMedicum, Standard Naturals and Craft Cultivation have since held community outreach meetings to present their plans to residents in the neighborhoods where their businesses would be located and to the community at large. The next step for the four applicants is acquiring a special permit granted by the
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City Council. The $750 fee is to cover in-house administrative costs which primarily involve sending notices to abutters and residents within 300 feet of the proposed location of each business. Applicants who are granted special permits must then successfully negotiate a host community agreement with Mayor Gary Christenson’s office, be approved for a provisional state licenses from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and finally be approved by Malden’s CLEC for a local retail license. While the special permitting process plays out, the CLEC plans to meet with the City Council to review the ordinance and discuss possible changes. The city has five available retail licenses, and according to the ordinance, preference for one of those licenses should be given to a business of which 51 percent is owned by a Malden resident who has lived in the city for at least five years, or to an applicant who fits the state’s
CANNABIS| SEE PAGE 19
HONORING MLK’S LEGACY: Mayor Gary Christenson is shown with keynote speaker Reverend Dr. Randall C. Bailey, honoree Kristyn Henry, Esq, and honoree Sandy Thompson of Network for Social Justice at the North Shore Black Women’s Association Host annual MLK Breakfast on Saturday at Anthony’s. See page 12 for photo highlights.
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E EVERETT AUTO SCHOOL A Malden Police Officer Jeffrey Drees was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant, and Sergeant Richard Correale was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. They are shown with Police Chief Kevin Molis (far right) and Malden Police Commissioner Salvatore “Butch” Gennetti. (Photo Courtesy of the Malden Police Department)
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