Martha's Vineyard nearly lost medical marijuana over a legal snafu. Here's what happened.

Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read
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The Cannabis Control Commission unanimously approved an administrative order that allows the transport of marijuana to and from marijuana establishments and treatment centers in Dukes and Nantucket counties at its June 13 meeting.

The order will allow transport of marijuana over state territorial waters and is effective as of midnight, June 14.

The Commission's original position was that transporting marijuana by air and sea, to and from the islands, could have violated federal law. Cannabis is still illegal according to federal guidelines.

The order comes after Fine Fettle, the only cannabis cultivator on Martha’s Vineyard, announced plans to shutter the business in September. It cited economic difficulties as a reason for its closing.

Geoff Rose, owner of Island Time dispensary on Martha’s Vineyard, has been closed for about four weeks because of supply chain issues. Before the administrative order, marijuana establishments, including Rose’s, could only get cannabis product from island suppliers.

A production room in Galenas, Ohio a medical marijuana cultivation facility in Akron.
A production room in Galenas, Ohio a medical marijuana cultivation facility in Akron.

“If there’s no relief, I’ll go out of business,” he said in phone call before the commission meeting.

Commissioners heard from medical marijuana patients, dispensary employees and owners at a public listening session at Oak Bluffs on June 6. Commissioner Bruce Stebbins called the testimony compelling. He said the administrative order puts a priority on patient access and could expand opportunities in Dukes and Nantucket Counties.

The order will permit island transportation in response to the growing risk and access to safe and legal medical cannabis in Dukes and Nantucket Counties, due to lack of access on the island, according to Commissioner Kimberly Roy.

“At the end of the day this was about public health and public safety and patients and consumers having access to safe product.”

She said there were 234 registered medical marijuana patients on the island who would have suffered if nothing was done.

The order will require marijuana establishments and marijuana treatment centers that choose to transport cannabis product over state territorial waters to have the products tested by independent laboratories, according to General Counsel Kristina Gasson.

The order is contingent on the creation of a standard operating procedure and inspection of seaworthy vessels, Gasson added.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com . 

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: The order that may save marijuana on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket