As the new marijuana industry gains traction statewide, entrepreneurs with off-Island ties are setting their sights on the Vineyard. Two groups envision opening multiple retail stores on the Island and have identified possible locations for the businesses.
Island businessman Geoff Rose said he is waiting on final state approvals to open his cultivation facility on Dr. Fisher Road and a medical marijuana dispensary on State Road in West Tisbury. Last fall, Mr. Rose entered into a partnership with the mainland cannabis company Acreage Holdings. He said this week that he hopes to eventually open two additional retail marijuana stores on the Island, and is in the process of opening another store in Framingham.
At a Tisbury selectmen’s meeting last week, a group with business connections in Williamstown presented plans to open a cannabis store on Mechanic’s street in Vineyard Haven. A spokesman for the group said they hope to open three stores on the Island.
Individual businesses are limited by the state Cannabis Control Commission to three licenses for retail marijuana establishments and three licenses for medical marijuana establishments. No recreational licenses have been granted by the Cannabis Control Commission on the Vineyard yet.
Four Island towns have zoned areas for marijuana businesses. Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury and Tisbury did not limit the number of retail marijuana stores that could open in those areas. In Edgartown, the number of retail marijuana licenses is limited in relationship to the number of liquor store licenses issued.
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