Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Neighbors of proposed location for dispensary have some concerns

By Mechele Cooper mcooper@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Holy comolie!

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Ralph Barrows, who lives near a proposed marijuana dispensary in Augusta, at left, said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the use of medical marijuana.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

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Gemma and Richard Dumont are upset a proposed marijuana dispensary may open across the street from their home on Middle Road in Augusta.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

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That's what 81-year-old Gemma Dumont said when she heard a medical marijuana dispensary may be located in the vacant building across the street from her home at 9 Middle Road.

The state on Friday announced the names of the three nonprofit corporations that will dispense marijuana under Maine's Medical Use of Marijuana Act, along with the potential locations of the dispensaries.

Northeast Patients Group was granted state licenses to operate four dispensaries in Maine -- including one in Kennebec County that may be located at 10 Middle Road.

The property is located on the corner of Middle Road and Old Belgrade Road, near the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care.

"There's going to be a lot of traffic, and (the dispensary) could get broken into, and so could we, and that would cause a lot of commotion, which we don't need," Dumont said Friday. "How come they didn't canvass the neighborhood and tell us about this? They usually do those things. At our age, we don't need all that brouhaha."

Richard Dumont, 82, who served on the Augusta City Council for 22 years and in the Legislature for two, said he built the metal building that would house the dispensary.

The property is listed with Century 21 for $350,000. Dumont -- a retired contractor -- said it has been empty for more than two years.

According to Lawson Property Services, developer Kevin Mattson is the controlling manager of the building, which is owned by investors.

"It just plain stinks," Richard Dumont said. "Why don't they put it downtown? They want to revitalize the downtown. Why put it near all these homes?"

Modest homes line this quiet street in one of Augusta's more rural areas.

Ken Barrows, who lives three houses down from the proposed dispensary with his mother, Bula Barrows, said he doesn't see anything wrong with the use of medical marijuana.

But he does worry about getting broken into and an increase in traffic.

"There's going to be a lot more traffic," Barrows said. "We already have a lot now, with all the new houses being built. We have two new developments on this road so there's more traffic than there used to be. When (the dispensary) comes here, there's going to be even more."

His 85-year-old mother, Bula, said she doesn't care for all the activity on and around her road, with the building of the cancer center and now talk of a new Interstate 95 exit to provide a link to the cancer center and the proposed site of a new inpatient hospital.

"I've been here 68 years," Bula Barrows said. "And I never thought I'd see this."

Not everyone is upset about the news.

Brandy Pyska, who lives around the corner at 486 Old Belgrade Road, said she has no problem with the location of the proposed dispensary.

"I feel, if it's being used for people who are suffering, they should have it," Pyska said. "As far as being close to me, it doesn't bother me a bit."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com