Beginning the marijuana business in Saugus

Companies are lining up to pursue special permits to sell pot

Auditioning time has begun for the companies that want to get into the business of selling recreational pot in Saugus.

“I have spoken to at least 12 companies and have moderated three community meetings for the CCC (state Cannabis Control Commission),” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said in an interview this week.

“The three locations that are public information at this point are for the Oye restaurant, the first floor at Out of Asia, and for All tune and lube.  There are several others that haven’t been named publicly and until they do so I feel it’s my responsibility to keep them confidential at least until they have their community meetings,” Cogliano said.

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree has told selectmen that he will be done with the crafting of a Request For Information (RFI) next week and will give any and all applicants 30 days to apply, according to Cogliano.

“After he finishes his analysis, it will be up to the Board of Selectmen to issue the S-2 permits,” Cogliano said.

“I hope we start the application process in early February as I see no need to drag it out any further.  It will be interesting with so many companies vying for three licenses.  We will pick the best ones for our town,” he said.

New zoning regulations approved by Town Meeting earlier this year and later validated by the state Attorney General as constitutional require that pot businesses be located 1,000 feet from the nearest school or playground.

Crabtree, with the help of town counsel, has been drafting RFIs for pot businesses interested in locating in Saugus.

These would essentially be proposals in which a company provides information about the location, its operational plan, specifications for the facility and a proposed agreement with the town.