Select Board attempts to smoke out a solution for Nature’s Remedy

Grafton’s town counsel has ruled that the town cannot move forward on Nature’s Remedy’s request to transfer its HCA until a second company’s agreement for the same property is terminated.

The Select Board last week surprised representatives from Nature’s Remedy, which is planning a merger with multi-state cannabis company Jushi Holdings, by postponing a decision on the transfer. In addition to the board’s frustration over Nature’s Remedy’s failure to move forward on their plans for a marijuana cultivation and processing facility at 8 Millennium Drive, there’s a hitch: Marchietti Industries has an HCA for the same address.

Marchietti was working with Nature’s Remedy back in May 2019 when it was granted the HCA for a marijuana retailer at 8 Millennium Drive.

Town Administrator Evan Brassard told the Select Board Tuesday that the town can alter its HCA agreement with Nature’s Remedy.

“They’re calling it a transfer, but it’s not a transfer,” he said, noting it would essentially be a termination with Nature’s Remedy and a new agreement with Jushi.

“There should be a requirement that they should be under construction — under construction, not under permit — within a certain timeline,” Select Board member Ray Mead said.

While that stipulation may not fly, Brassard said the new agreement could include renewal deadlines and a “race to the finish line” approach that would allow other businesses to move to claim the town’s sole cultivator license.

The issue will be on the agenda at the August 17 Select Board meeting.

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