Ascend Refiles Petition For Marijuana Dispensary In Newton

NEWTON, MA — The marijuana retailer Ascend is set to come before the Land Use committee Tuesday to re-petition to allow a dispensary on Washington Street.

Ascend Mass withdrew its application to open a marijuana dispensary late last year because of a city council rule requiring that Special Permit petitions that are not acted upon before the end of the term, effectively start over.

Tuesday, Ascend officials are set to ask for waivers to lighting requirements, according to the Land Use Committee agenda.

At public hearings last year several residents in the neighborhood raised concern about what the appointment-only dispensary might mean for traffic in and out of the parking lot at the corner of Washington and Cross streets.

As Ascend refiles the application, it restarts the City Council approval process and the public hearings will start anew.

Ascend first filed a petition last year to bring retail marijuana to the old dry cleaners at the corner of 58 Cross St. and 1089 Washington St. just east of West Newton Square.

Pot is legal in Massachusetts

In 2016, about 54 percent of Newton voters supported the statewide ballot measure that legalized marijuana. Marijuana is legal for adults over the age of 21 in 10 states, including Massachusetts. Medical marijuana is legal in 33. That said: the federal government still classifies marijuana as a "schedule 1 drug," listing it as high potential for abuse.

In 2018 Newton voters rejected a proposed ban on recreational marijuana shops. They also poo pooed limiting the number of shops to 2-4, according to unofficial Election Night results. Newton now has eight licenses to give out, one of which Garden Remedies has. Anther is for Cypress Tree Management on Eliot Street.

Garden Remedies was the first pot shop to open in the city in 2016 as a medical marijuana dispensary. In May 2019, it added adult use retail marijuana sales by appointment to its 697 Washington Street location.

Garden Remedies is the only marijuana dispensary in operation in town and it's appointment only. Cypress Tree on Elliot Street at Route 9 has city approval, but not the state's and it plans to be appointment only.

Ascend (West Newton Square), Herbology (Auburndale), MedMen (Chestnut Hill), and Union Twist (Four Corners) have mayoral approval but not the city council's. They would also need final state approval.

RELATED:

• Newton's First Recreational Marijuana Shop To Open
• Garden Remedies Could Open Retail Marijuana Soon: Newton Mayor (February)
• Newton's Garden Remedies Could Sell Recreational Marijuana Next Month (April)
• What's Next For Marijuana Shops In Newton, Ban Question Fails
• 2nd Medical Marijuana Site To Come To Newton
• Newton Passes Temporary Ban on Recreational Marijuana
• marijuana taxes in Newton estimated to range from $291k-$700k
• Ascend Massachusetts To Host Community Meeting
• 3 More Marijuana Retailers Clear 1st Hurdle In Newton
• US Attorney's Office Investigating Newton Marijuana

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).