Orleans residents and leaders agree. Retail cannabis is a positive step for the town to take. Here’s a rundown of the various letters, articles, newsletters and social media posts demonstrating their passion on the issue.
Agnes Knowles, Resident & Business Owner
The Cape Codder
Opinion Commentary: Orleans can benefit from cannabis retail
You may think as a senior, a career educator of 31 years, a mother and grandmother I would vote against Orleans Town Meeting Article 37-38, (regarding marijuana retail establishments) but it is just the opposite and here is why.
I love this town. I have been a resident taxpayer and business owner for over 40 years, raised my children here and educated decades of Nauset students in science and critical thinking. I am now asking you to think facts, not scary propaganda.
Our “brand” is not just the charming, exclusive seaside community, it is the center of commerce for the lower cape...we are “the” one stop shopping destination.
Mefford Runyon, Select Board
<From the Facebook post above, here’s the full text below>
The Planning Board is looking for ways that it can support and encourage growth in the Orleans economy. So, it was disappointing that its deliberations on the cannabis Town Meeting article barely touched on the economic impact and what little information it did hear was erroneous. Much of the financial uncertainty concerning retail cannabis stores has been clarified. As of August, 67 retail cannabis stores have opened throughout the state and have submitted their sales records to the MA DOR.
To set the record straight:
Orleans would receive 6% of a store’s sales: 3% in perpetuity plus a 3% community impact fee for a minimum of 5 years.
For just the month of August, the 67 stores reported sales of $78M. The average per store was $1.1M.
If an Orleans store operated at the State average, it would have annual sales of just over $13M.
For the first 5 years, Orleans would receive $780K per year, and $390K thereafter. Even if an Orleans store managed only half the state average, the town would receive $390K per year for 5 years and $195K per year thereafter.
A typical retail cannabis store would, conservatively, employ 10 full time people with some additional seasonal part time employees. There would be ancillary jobs created as well, such as construction, maintenance, landscaping, etc.
These are significant revenues and jobs that would benefit Orleans. Respect that “our town” is diverse in its views and VOTE TO SUPPORT articles 37 & 38 at Town Meeting on the 31st.
Steve Gass, Resident
The Cape Codder Letter to the Editor
Original published October 23rd
To the Editor
Since Massachusetts legalized marijuana I have been following the debate in Orleans regarding the permitting of marijuana establishments in Orleans.
Article 37 - Amending the Zoning Bylaw re Marijuana Establishments - on the upcoming warrant for the [Oct. 31] Orleans Town Meeting strikes a reasonable compromise that accomplishes a number of positive outcomes:
Creates new, good paying jobs in Orleans
Provides new, significant revenues that can fund important, needed services for the town
Provides Orleans residents with the convenience of obtaining medical and recreational marijuana in a safe and responsible way
Prohibits the sale of marijuana in the village center district
Limits the number of possible retail outlets to two
To continue to prohibit the establishment of retail marijuana in Orleans harkens back to a puritanical era in Massachusetts that no longer exists. The many citizens of Orleans who benefit from marijuana deserve to have the option to purchase it legally in Orleans.
I urge the voters of Orleans to support Article 37.
Steve Gass
Andrea Reed, Select Board
Kudos to this Orleans leader for going a step further, and suggesting (2) powerfully good programs that the potential tax revenue could go to in Orleans: Universal Pre-K & Recreation Programs
*A Polite Correction, Andrea: it’s 6% of annual sales revenue. Here’s the formula:
