Medical Marijuana Cultivation-Dispensary Business is Approved

Milford has given initial approval for its first medical marijuana cultivation center and dispensary.

The application by Bay State Relief received the required zoning variance and special permit Thursday from the town's Zoning Board of Appeals. The business also will submit a site plan for review by the Planning Board, but that is a common step, said Town Counsel Gerald Moody.

The business will include both cultivation and dispensary operations. The location is 13 Commercial Way, in an industrial park off Birch Street. The site is in the IB industrial business zone, which allows the medical marijuana business by special permit, but a variance from zoning was also required because the lot borders a residential zone on Beaver Street.

In the application documents, Bay State Relief, based in Framingham, argued that the 200 foot setback requirement could be resolved with installation of a security fence around the perimeter of the property.

The state will allow up to 35 medical marijuana facilities, with at least one allowed per county. Thirteen applicants said they wanted a Worcester County location. It is not clear how many are interested in Milford.

Milford Town Planner Larry Dunkin said last month he'd received calls from four companies, interested in Milford, but only Bay State Relief had filed an application.