SOUTHWICK — The Southwick resident who was the only marijuana retailer permit applicant not to be named a finalist decided on July 16 to withdraw his application.
James Jaron, who also owns Holyoke Cannabis and had proposed a business to be called The Southwick Dispensary at the site of the former Roma Restaurant on College Highway, had previously challenged his exclusion from the list of finalists. The selection of finalists was made by board member Diane Gale before the list was presented to the full Select Board. Jaron’s withdrawal leaves just the four finalists Gale had selected in the running for the two retail permits Southwick will issue.
Gale had said Jaron’s application, unlike the other four applications, didn’t completely answer the questions in the town’s request for information.
After Gale’s decision, board Chair Jason Perron took issue with her decision, pointing to a provision in the town’s request for information that gives the Select Board the “right to reject any application it deems to be incomplete, however it may, at its discretion, request that the omitted information or further clarifications be provided by the [applicant].”
Under that provision, Perron believed the board could ask Jaron to appear in person and provide any additional information that may have not been included in his application. Town Attorney Benjamin Coyle, in a memo to the Select Board, wrote that it did have the “discretion” to include Jaron’s application, but warned that there could be “potential contests” from the other four applicants, though Jaron could also legally challenge the decision to exclude him.
“It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Select Board member Doug Moglin said after Gale read Coyle’s opinion.
After Perron said that including Jaron’s application was an issue of fairness, Gale said that she was “fighting for the other four candidates who read [the request] and understood it.”
With no resolution in sight, Moglin said he wanted to do a more thorough read of Coyle’s letter and suggested taking the issue up at a July 22 meeting. But on July 16, Jaron wrote: “After yesterday’s board meeting, it is clear to me that there is no path for success in this process.”
“I have advocated for a dispensary in town for way too long for the process to turn into who can write a better paper, and not the wishes of the people, or who is the better candidate. Hopefully, my withdraw unites the board,” wrote Jaron, who also wished the remaining applicants “good luck.”
The four remaining applicants are:
- Cannabis Hut, to be located at 687 College Hwy., an application filed by Thomas Rooke, managing partner in a cannabis grow operation in Plainfield and wholesale manager for Zaza Green, a cannabis retailer in Springfield.
- Pioneer Valley Trading Co., submitted by Southwick’s Michael Paul Albert and Richard Fiore, who are principals at the existing Pioneer Valley Trading Co. retail cannabis operation on Southampton Road in Westfield. They are in negotiations to occupy the Southwick Community Episcopal Church building at 660 College Hwy.
- Haven, also known as Responsible and Compliant Southwick LLC, which would use the Family Dollar building on College Highway. Its president is Brian Kuchachick, a co-owner of Bellefleur, a cannabis grow operation in Blandford.
- Sunshine Cannabis Inc., submitted by West Springfield lawyer Kaily Hepburn. Her application didn’t include a location, but Gale has said because she is a social equity applicant, identifying a business location wasn’t required.
