A cannabis dispensary planned for the border between the Back Bay and South End is facing increasing resistance from neighbors that say the location is inadvisable and even unsafe.
Herbal Power LLC is a proposed Columbus Avenue dispensary currently embroiled in public meetings to hear community concerns and tailor its application before appearing before the Boston Cannabis Board.
Initial pushback to the chosen location, however, has boiled over into petitions and threats of legal action from neighbors that say the location is too cramped and too residential to safely house a dispensary. Traffic was foremost among the concerns posed by residents at a May 16 public meeting.
The section of the street in front of the storefront already struggles with tight sidewalks and crowded streets, and many residents were unconvinced by an Herbal Power traffic study that suggested nearby public transit would mitigate the dispensary’s impact.
“If you actually tried to pick a worse location on Columbus Avenue, you probably couldn’t,” said Brian Chu. “The sidewalks are the narrowest right in front of this location. It’s the only part that has cones on the meridian because the intersection is so hazardous. It’s directly in front of a no stopping right turn only bike lane. And then there are at least five elementary and middle school bus stops that happen right on that block.”
Herbal Power also faces the objections common to almost all cannabis applications, magnified by the location’s close proximity to housing units. Landlords and tenants who would be adjacent to the business are worried it could taint the air, attract people struggling with substance abuse and drive down property values.
“Back when this store was a restaurant, the smell of french fries permeated the entire building despite great steps taken for ventilation,” said Jennifer Forsythe, the owner of an apartment directly above the location. “The chemicals in marijuana products are rancid, and it’s going to permeate the wood, the entire building. Even if people smoking outside get banned, it’s too late. My tenants have moved out and I’ve taken a direct financial loss.”
Those objections have coalesced into petitions and coordinated groups of residents. One garnered 21 abutters in “strong opposition.” Another had over 120 signatures from a group that threatened legal action.
“We’re here today to represent the neighborhood action committee, a group of concerned neighborhood residents opposed to the proposed dispensary,” said Paul Tellier, senior counsel with D'Ambrosio Brown LLP. “Our group has collected overwhelming numbers of signatures with serious concerns about traffic at an already dangerous intersection, loitering and child safety. There are safer alternative locations, and our clients are ready, willing and able to legally defend their concerns and protect their rights.”
Herbal Power’s owners maintain they’re committed to making the proposal work and say the data from other Boston dispensaries doesn’t support concerns about traffic, safety or housing prices.
A definite minority of residents did speak out in favor of the dispensary, often expressing skepticism that another business would face the same resistance from neighbors.
“We respect these concerns, and we want to be good neighbors,” said Brian Chavez, Herbal Power’s CFO. “But today marks two months since I opened my first store. I heard the same concerns then, and I’m happy to tell you that not one incident has occurred of someone walking outside and opening a package. The BCB tracks license violations citywide, and these things just aren’t happening. Most of our customers are law-abiding citizens from all walks of life that just want to get their product and go home.”
Herbal Power’s current timeline estimates it will appear before the BCB for a vote in June, seeking final confirmation from the state in February.
