Ascend Massachusetts To Host Community Meeting On Newton Pot Shop

NEWTON, MA — As Newton edges closer to giving the green light to another marijuana dispensary, the marijuana business is hosting a community meeting on it is set for Thursday. Ascend Massachusetts will present their plan and answer questions and get input from residents about the shop. The space in question? Formerly the Beacon Hill Athletic Club on 58 Cross Street also known as 1089 Washington Street. Now, the dispensary is asking for input from the community.

The public meeting will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 18 at the First Unitarian Church on Washington Street.

Back in April, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced she was set to sign a preliminary host community agreement for Ascend Mass of Newton’s dispensary. That would be the city's second marijuana establishment, after Garden Remedies opened about a mile down Washington Street earlier this year.

Unlike Garden Remedies, Ascend Wellness would have a parking lot with 32 spaces. The shop would take up is a 4,900 square feet to sell recreational cannabis. It's not yet clear what would go in the other shop space next door, yet.

"Subject to final approval, the Ascend Mass Newton store is expected to open in 2020," according to a statement by Abner Kurtin, who owns the investor company Salvo Capital.

Ascend has a management team led by former Gov. Deval Patrick aid Andrea Cabral with experience in law enforcement and regulatory compliance.

As part of the Community Host Agreement the city requires cannabis retailers to sign, Ascend volunteered to provide financial support to Newton nonprofit(s) of $2,500, increasing by 5 percent annually. Ascend also requires every customer to sign a community norms pledge, which conditions status as a customer in good standing on a promise to refrain from loitering, nuisance behavior or any conduct deleterious to the neighborhood.

Ascend has also promised to invest in the renovation and build-out of the vacant building, using local construction crews. The company promises to bring 35 salaried jobs to the area, which it intends to source locally. Ascend indicated it will provide 3 percent of gross revenue to the city.

"The applicant presented thorough plans for operations, security, equity and transportation management. The site has ample parking and safe access and circulation. Ascend also has appropriate public health, community relations, and sustainability philosophies," said the mayor in May.

Ascend Massachusetts is planning to open soon in Boston and Cambridge. Parent company, Ascend Wellness Holdings owns retail stores and cultivation sites in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.

That's not the only marijuana retail businesses knocking on Newton's doors in the hopes of security the city's eight marijuana licenses. In addition to Garden Remedies and Ascend, the city has granted Community Host Agreements, the first step forward in the green light process, to Cypress Tree Management, which will be located on Elliot Street, just off Rt. 9 at the edge of Newton Highlands and Newton Upper Falls.

Cypress Tree Management was approved for a registered medical marijuana dispensary by the City Council last year and hopes to open a medical and retail marijuana retail shop at the same time.

Six other businesses have thrown their hats into the ring asking for permits to open up shop in the city.

HCA Active Applications:

• ARL Healthcare, Inc., 1114 Beacon St
• Bloominus Inc., 1136 Beacon St
• Green Harbor Dispensary, LLC, 1136 Beacon St
• Herbology, 131 Rumford Ave
• MedMen, 232 Boylston St
• Union Twist Cannabis Co., 1158 Beacon St

The Host Agreement is just the first step in a multi-tiered process, that will also involve a public hearing and the City Council working out a Special Permit with the applicants. Ascend has not yet applied for a special permit.

In the end the decision as to whether and under what conditions a marijuana establishment may operate is made by the City Council as part of that Special Permit process.

Also read:

• Newton's First Recreational Marijuana Shop To Open May 25 (May 2019)
• 2nd Medical Marijuana Site To Come To Newton (Oct. 2018)
• Newton To Take Up Marijuana Questions (Sept 2018)
• What's Next For Marijuana Shops In Newton, Ban Question Fails(July 2018)
• Newton Mayor's Update: Retail Marijuana(June 2018)
• Newton Passes Temporary Ban on Recreational Marijuana (Feb 2018)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).