Milford Marijuana Producer Wants To Make Regs Less Hazy

MILFORD, MA — Sira Naturals, the first company awarded a recreational marijuana cultivation license in Massachusetts, wants to make a town pot law less hazy. Milford's current law requires a non-profit operate a medical marijuana dispensary. That clashes with state law, which allows for-profit businesses to operate such dispensaries.

Sira, which is for-profit, requested the Board of Selectmen add a measure on the Town Meeting ballot asking voters approve changing the law to allow any entity to operate medical dispensaries. Selectmen on Monday submitted the request to the Planning Board for review.

Board of Selectmen Chairman William Buckley said the revised law would allow "any entity" instead of a "nonprofit entity" to operate a medical dispensary.

"Those words are not unimportant when it comes to our bylaws," he said.

Milford does not have any medical or recreational cannabis dispensaries. Sira Naturals said it does not intend to bring any retail marijuana facilities, medical or adult-use, to the town. "We committed to Milford that we would not bring retail sales to the town and we intend to keep that commitment," said Michael Dundas, President of Sira Naturals.

Dundas said the reason the company is pushing for the change is to bring the town into compliance with the state. The bylaw was brought to Sira's attention by Milford's town planner, Dundas said.

Sira's cultivation facility is on Commercial Way. The company sells marijuana to dispensaries in Cambridge, Needham and Somerville.

The company is eyeing another facility on Industrial Road and held a community outreach meeting in July to discuss its request for another cultivation license and a product manufacturer license.

Sira Naturals was the first business in Massachusetts to be awarded a license to grow recreational cannabis.