Marijuana Treatment Center Proposed For Route 9 in Framingham

By Nick Barry

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FRAMINGHAM – Representatives from Beacon Compassion Inc. appeared before The Framingham Planning Board last month requesting “minor site plan review” to “convert an existing retail building into a medical marijuana treatment center.”

The company was represented by Peter D’ Agostino, along with civil engineer Tony Kepacheti, architect Bryan Anderson, and principals Ben Bortimer and Chad Wise.

D’ Agostino said the company was hoping to build a marijuana “retail store that is limited in only to selling to medical patients.” 

The facility would be located at 315 Worcester Road, the site of a former textile factory, and it would be accessible from both Worcester Road (Route 9) and Concord Street (Route 126).

The store would allow patrons to walk in and pick up their marijuana, or order it in advance online. 

Planning Board members did not have any opposition to the actual facility and unanimously approved it.

However, some were concerned about the location of an existing sign that could prove hazardous to those with disabilities, as part of it sits on the sidewalk.

“My biggest concern is that the sign is in the sidewalk, next to an ADA curb cut,” said Planning Board member Thomas Buie.

Kathie McCarthy expressed concern about the sign limiting handicapped access.

“There’s no way anything should be approved when you already have infringement on the access,” she said. 

The Planning Board decided the sign issue should go before the Building Commissioner’s office.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts first legalized medical marijuana in 2012, and recreational marijuana in 2016.

The City of Framingham Marijuana Task Force and the Mayor negotiated marijuana host agreements. Up to 6 retailer establishments were allowed.

The first two host agreements were issued in May of 2019 to:

• Union Twist, a dispensary planned for 630 Worcester Road, which has yet to open
• Temescal Wellness, which expanded its medical marijuana dispensary at 665 Cochituate Road into a medical and non-medical shop.

Other host agreements were issued to:

• Innovative Flower for 665 Cochituate Road.

• Cultivate Holdings at 250 Worcester Road, which has opened.

• Nova Farms at 1133 Worcester Road, which has opened