Nature’s Remedy signs host agreement for pot cultivation facility in North Grafton

After years of changes to Nature’s Remedy’s plan for its proposed marijuana grow facility in North Grafton, selectmen on Tuesday signed a community host agreement with the company for a marijuana cultivation and distribution facility at its Centech Park location.

Robert C. Carr Jr., spokesman for Nature’s Remedy of Massachusetts, appeared before selectmen last week to explain that the 8 Millennium Drive site would provide wholesale marijuana to several other Nature’s Remedy sites, including in Millbury.

The company will build a grow facility by adding a second story to its proposed 48,000-square-foot building. The facility would be used to cultivate and provide wholesale distribution of marijuana to sites that sell medical and adult use, but there will be no retail sales at the North Grafton facility.

The company also has projects in Rowley, Tyngsboro and Lakeville, that have been growing marijuana for about two months.

A grow facility provides different revenues to host communities from a retail business.

Rather than paying Grafton 3% tax on retail sales, Nature’s Remedy will make a $50,000 payment to Grafton after the first sale and then $25 per pound of marijuana that leaves the building.

In total, Mr. Carr estimates the town will see revenues of $500,000 per year. The company will also make a $10,000 donation to a local community group.

The marijuana business has changed dramatically since Nature’s Remedy received a 2017 special permit from Grafton for a medical marijuana grow facility.

Two years ago, Mr. Carr appeared before selectmen to explain his plans to build a facility to cultivate medical marijuana.

At that time, Nature’s Remedy decided to put the Grafton cultivation project on hold to focus on its other facilities, including one in neighboring Millbury. As an alternative, the Marchette Property Group planned to lease a portion of Nature’s Remedy building for retail sales.

However, Mr. Carr told the board last week that plans with Marchette were “off the table,” but future retail sales at the site are still a possibility.

Town Administrator Timothy McInerney noted that Nature’s Remedy has already been approved to grow medical marijuana. That approval gives Nature’s Remedy a leg up in getting a license for adult use marijuana from the state Cannabis Control Commission.

Once Nature’s Remedy receives all the necessary approvals and permits, Mr. Carr said his goal is to see the steel frame of the building by January.