COMPANY EYES SANFORD MILL FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SANFORD - A South Berwick company is considering setting up a medical
marijuana dispensary in one of Sanford's old textile mills.

Green Relief MD is eyeing Stone Mill Place, a six-story former
textile mill owned by Eric Stone on Emery Street in the millyard.

Under rules set by the state following passage of the medical
marijuana referendum in November 2009, York County will be allowed
one state-approved, non-profit medical marijuana dispensary. The
county is one of eight Public Health Districts set up across the
state for dispensary locations.

Green Relief MD founder Ron Fousek said the facility would generate
23 jobs in the first year, and he projects a staff of 300 in five
years. He estimated the project would cost about $500,000 to
implement. The state application fee is $15,000.

Green Relief MD will be watching Town Council action next Tuesday to
see if the panel will consider repeal of an emergency moratorium it
enacted in April. If there is no repeal, the 90-day moratorium will
expire of its own accord July 20, unless the council proceeds with
the second reading of a moratorium ordinance that would give it time
to develop zoning. A first reading was held Tuesday.

Green Relief MD is under pressure because applications to the state
must be made by June 25. The state will not consider an application
in a community where a moratorium exists.

Fousek said this morning that the company has also approached Eliot
and has eyed Arundel and South Berwick and is expected to speak with
officials in Wells tonight, but Sanford and the mill is his preferred location.

"We'd get the top two floors for growing (in the 200,000-square-foot
mill building)," he said. "Sanford is the place we want to be."

Councilors said they understand the urgency on Green Relief MD's
part, but don't want to be rushed into making a decision. After a
lengthy discussion, they agreed to next week discuss and perhaps take
action on a repeal of the existing emergency ordinance, which
requires five affirmative votes out of seven. Repeal of an emergency
ordinance requires no public hearing.

Councilors said they wanted to take their time in considering all options.

"I don't see the rush to do something. That just gets you in
trouble," said Councilor Anne Marie Mastraccio.

"It's not that I don't want it. I don't want you to misunderstand.
I'm trying to be open to this argument, however ... we have a
process," said Councilor Brad Littlefield. "I almost feel like I've
got a gun to my head. I don't want to feel pressured."

Under state rules, marijuana may be prescribed by a physician to
treat symptoms associated with a number of illnesses, including
cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's
disease, hepatitis C, agitation of Alzheimer's disease and a genetic
disorder called Nail-patella syndrome.

Fousek this morning said he and Brian Eager, a business partner in
Green Relief MD, are already designated as caregivers under Maine's
existing medical marijuana laws, which allow a caregiver to grow a
specified amount of marijuana for their own medical purposes or grow
or acquire it for someone else. Allowed 10 patients under the law, he
said he has three and Eager two.

Fousek said he is one of 21 directors of Medical Marijuana Growers of Maine.

If the council were to repeal the existing emergency moratorium,
officials say location of a dispensary would fall under existing
zoning rules for medical facilities, which exclude only residential areas.

And while Green Relief MD is the only company to make a presentation
to the council and is interested in Stone Mill Place, it is
apparently not the only company eyeing Sanford for a dispensary.

Former councilor Maura Herlihy said that could be a problem.

"If you take away the moratorium, you open it up not only to (Stone
Mill Place) but other areas," she said. Herlihy said she wouldn't
want to see a dispensary in a place like the former Movie Gallery
space in the Mid-Town Mall, in the heart of downtown.

Eager said a dispensary in Sanford operated by Green Relief MD would
be safe and secure with no consumption on the premises and with no
loitering allowed. Patients would have privacy and medical marijuana
would be dispensed discreetly, he noted.

Council Chairman Joseph Hanslip said the council has a week or two to
mull the matter.

"I am supportive of medical marijuana and I think it's a good
opportunity to locate a business in Sanford. It would be nice to see
a new business located in the mills but the time frame we have to act
upon concerns me," said Hanslip this morning. "This is not something
to rush into.,"