The state’s new pot boss Shannon O’Brien, paid a smoking $181,722 wage, has been concerned in two functions for hashish cultivation, based on paperwork reviewed by the Herald.
O’Brien is listed on an utility filed in 2020 by Greenfield Greenery LLC, as an “Owner/Partner” in a proposal to open an out of doors rising operation occupying upwards of 100,000 sq. toes.
A second utility, by Charlemont FarmWorks LLC, lists O’Brien beneath a piece titled “Our Team” as an adviser, noting her position as the previous state treasurer and as a former state senator. She additionally ran for governor in 2002, dropping to Mitt Romney.
According to the appliance submitted to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, Greenfield Greenery filed a bunch neighborhood settlement with the town of Greenfield in October 2020 and “sent municipal notice” of intent to function a marijuana enterprise to the town the next December.
In June 2021, O’Brien addressed the town’s zoning board of appeals, based on minutes of that assembly the place she is listed because the CEO of the marijuana cultivation firm.
According to the minutes, O’Brien “stated that their mission is to develop an outdoor sun grown cannabis cultivation facility with partnership with local farmers. She stated that most marijuana cultivators in Massachusetts grow indoors using high powered lights to recreate natural sunlight. Growing outdoors does present several challenges that they believe will be overcome.”
According to knowledge supplied by the CCC, Greenfield Greenery and Charlmont FarmWorks have been granted provisional licenses by the fee.
According to state laws, as soon as the provisions of these licenses are seen to, the fee might want to resolve whether or not to problem both enterprise a ultimate license and conduct a ultimate inspection of their operations, a matter which the entire fee may have to think about at size.
A spokesperson for the fee mentioned the regulatory physique is conscious of O’Brien’s connection to the marijuana companies.
The spokesperson mentioned a change of possession request was submitted for the Greenfield dispensary in May, however that it has not but been processed. The spokesperson mentioned O’Brien is ready to recuse herself from any dealings involving the companies which will come earlier than the fee.
O’Brien couldn’t be reached for remark. The CCC spokesperson didn’t present an announcement on her behalf and the e-mail listed on the company’s web site for the fee chair doesn’t work.
O’Brien was appointed by Treasurer Deb Goldberg to steer the state’s marijuana regulation physique in late August. O’Brien was formally sworn in on Sept. 1, the five-year anniversary of the fee’s formation.
“I am confident that her financial background, experience in corporate governance, executive management, and business development, combined with outstanding leadership skills and an acute knowledge of the legislative process, will help the Massachusetts cannabis industry be fairly regulated, equitable, and successful,” Goldberg mentioned of O’Brien when asserting the appointment.
According to the fee’s web site, its mission is “to honor the will of the voters of Massachusetts by safely, equitably and effectively implementing and administering the laws enabling access to medical and adult-use marijuana in the Commonwealth.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”