Welcome!
The team at Euphorium has put together this simple web link to provide more information about the proposed adult-use marijuana retail establishment at 143 Main St in Florence, MA. We have received a TON of questions and feedback about our proposed store and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to listen and respond to the local community. We held an in-person public meeting on August 15, 2022, and we will be holding a secondary meeting on 9/7/22, 5:30-8pm which can be accessed here virtually: Euphorium Virtual Meeting Link, but will also be held in person at the Florence Civic Center, 90 Park Street, Florence, 01062.
In the meantime, we have put together this document to provide information about the project and responses to some of the most frequently asked questions that we have heard so far. If you don’t see an answer to your question here, please submit a question in writing to the following email address: AskEuphoriumLLC@gmail.com. We will be answering questions that we receive in writing at the presentation on September 7th. Please note that the presentation will not include a public comment section so please make sure to submit any questions that you have in writing prior to the start of the meeting.
Thank you.
Marco N. Aranzullo, CEO of Euphorium
Will the new Public Meeting be a compliant Community Outreach meeting?
No. The new meeting happening Wednesday 9/7 at 5:30pm at the Florence Civic Center was voluntarily scheduled by us but the in-person aspect at the Center is a request of the Mayor’s office. It is not a state-compliant Community Outreach Meeting as our outdoor meeting August 15th was a compliant meeting. Due to technical difficulties with the Zoom portion of the outdoor meeting (also not a state requirement unless the meeting is exclusively zoom and there is no in-person meeting,) we are conducting a second “public meeting” which will have a virtual component.
NOTE: The Florence Civic Center holds 89 people and overflow can listen via speakers outside. The weather may be poor and we strongly urge everyone to tune into the meeting virtually via this link:
Euphorium LLC 2nd meeting
Wednesday, September 7 (5:30 – 6:45 pm)
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iib-npck-yev
Or dial: (US) +1 316-413-5155 PIN: 595 854 285#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/iib-npck-yev?pin=6469835145130
Who is Euphorium?
Like many other businesses in Florence center, Euphorium is a small, family-owned and operated business. The operations team is led by Marco Aranzullo and will include several other family members, as well as a number of local hires. We are not owned by a large corporation, nor do we have operations in multiple states.
First, a little about myself and my father Richard Aranzullo in order for the community to get to know us. Richard, born in 1941, was in the Marine Corps during the late 1950s, (and as any Marine knows, is still a Marine.) and started working in the security business in the mid 1960s. Marco and Richard have been working together since Marco’s second year of college in 1999. They run the security and private investigation company to this day and have worked as business partners, previously expanding into several states until the economy contraction of 2008 brought them back to Connecticut only.
An important part of the security business is holding gun permits, and although my wife and I are vegetarians, we hold permits and enjoy sports shooting. We also enjoy running in 5k charity runs though our membership in Run 169 Connecticut and enjoy the outdoors through camping, biking, etc.
In 2006, my then fiance and her best friend were passengers in a vehicle hit by a drunk driver in Hartford, killing her best friend. Adding to this tragedy with alcohol, I have a condition called Cystinuria which can cause severe pain. Cannabis edibles have been an essential treatment for this as I avoid opiates which cause debilitating physical side effects such as nausea, fatigue, etc.
Marco was also a partner at a cigar and smoke shop. Marco’s initial vision for Euphorium came from witnessing the community created at his cigar shop where customers that didn’t know each other would talk and share stories and information about their common interests. Euphorium seeks to cultivate this same culture around cannabis by being a place where customers can come to learn about the plant and its various uses and meet others who share a passion for cannabis. We hope to build a local customer base that can be a model for cannabis consumers as active members of their community, participating in local events, fundraisers, and events.
Euphorium’s footprint comes in at about 1,200 square feet and the intended plan is to make the better part of that space a customer area, with the vault and small office located in the rear. Our design will be nicely lit and focus on high ceilings, softwood cabinets accented with metal, and walls that will be evenly matched with product and design elements describing different historical moments in the Pioneer Valley. Our front windows will not be blacked out and we are working on a design that will allow for a view into the foyer (without views of any products) that is consistent with the feel and look of the other businesses in the area.
What will Euphorium look like?
Euphorium will be located in the space previously occupied by the Pizza Factory at 143 Main St in Florence on the corner of Maple and Main. Their lease ends on December 31st. Despite rumors to the contrary, Euphorium played no part in the Pizza Factory’s decision to leave the space. Euphorium only expressed interest in the space after being notified by their realtor that Pizza Factory would soon be leaving the storefront vacant. Below is a photograph of the current facade of the building:
The building owner has proposed a facade upgrade for the entire block, which will utilize uniform signage celebrating the architectural history of the “Goodwin Block,” the name of the building. Euphorium’s facade and signage would be consistent with the rest of the retail storefronts as the landlord makes those decisions. Note: WE HAVE NO SAY in the final design, color, aesthetic, etc. of the facade or exterior of the building. The rendering below represents an overall aesthetic, not the final design. Pizza Factory’s awning will be replaced ro resecure updated hardware to the building. A design such as the one below where an awning advertises the building’s retail shopping is being considered. Draft rendering:
Why this location?
We were originally drawn to the Northampton area because of its reputation as a destination with a vibrant retail sector with respected arts and culture establishments, but we quickly recognized that the downtown area is already heavily saturated with operating dispensaries. That’s why we were very excited when we heard from our realtor that a space was opening up at 143 Main St in Florence, which still does not have a single dispensary. We were immediately attracted to the small-town feel of Florence, as well as the great mix of restaurants, breweries, and shops in the village center. Moreover, we were happy to see that 143 Main St is zoned for marijuana retail “as of right”, meaning the City has designated it as an area where it wants to see marijuana retailers locate and we would not be required to go through a lengthy permitting process. Of course, we have learned that the zoning district is not necessarily reflective of what citizens in town would like to see at this location, but we still believe that we will make an excellent addition to the neighborhood for all of the reasons (and more) set forth in the answers below.
Will the location of the establishment interfere with addiction and substance-use services in the area?
We have a tremendous amount of respect for the important programs and services in Florence that serve those that are struggling with substance use and addiction. We have a 3 part approach to be sensitive to, and to support anyone in the recovery community:
- We will reach out directly to local recovery services in order to identify opportunities to support the work that they do and to solicit feedback on how we can help reduce the possibility that the presence of our store could be a stumbling block for anybody in recovery.
- The design of our storefront will not feature images of cannabis or cannabis-related products, nor will it actively promote cannabis use.
- The windows will be clear, as per Northampton’s bylaws, which seek to normalize this as an appropriate and legal business. But as state law prevents products from being visible from the public view, an interior wall section will serve as a screen or foyer between the entrance area and retail floor.
- We commit to donating a portion of our revenue directly to local non-profits providing recovery services and we hope to find opportunities to volunteer in person as well. Additionally, we will hire workers with previous drug-related CORIs, as employment is an issue for workers involved in the drug war.
We recognize that some people struggle with substance use related to cannabis, however, there is also a growing body of empirical data showing that cannabis can be an effective aid in recovery from addiction to opioids[1] and alcohol.[2] Furthermore, according to the most recent city-wide data published by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, only 2.7% of people in treatment and recovery services in Northampton reported Marijuana as their primary substance of use.[3] As the Northampton Recovery Center’s Code of Ethics affirms, we too “support all people on all paths and, in all stages of recovery with compassion and acceptance.”[4]
Providing regulated, safe, and state-tracked access to cannabis disrupts the black market that is alive and well in Florence.
Does Northampton really need another cannabis retailer?
As experienced small business owners, we knew enough to do our research before embarking on this path, and the numbers show that even with 11 operational stores in town the demand still remains relatively strong. More importantly, we believe we can offer something different than the other retailers in the area, both in terms of location and experience. Northampton’s existing cannabis retailers are mostly clustered around downtown Northampton; we are excited to be the first cannabis retailer in Florence, providing a convenient, walkable destination for local residents. Furthermore, we intend to provide a shopping experience that focuses on local cannabis culture and craft cultivators, and although the antiseptic “Apple store” aesthetic that has become so popular in cannabis retail spaces has its place, we intend to offer a more intellectual, cultural, and connoisseur experience similar to the cigar bars popular in New England and New York.
It is ultimately a business decision. But one that will be compliant with the bylaws and regulations for retail stores and state regulations for cannabis.
We are aware that some municipalities in Massachusetts have chosen to artificially limit the number of retailers allowed in town, but the results of those efforts have been an unintended commodification of existing Host Community Agreements. When HCAs are limited, recipients of existing HCAs often prefer to sell their HCA to the highest bidder instead of investing in a business that can generate taxes and fees for the municipality. This generally results in under-utilization of existing HCAs and consolidation of HCAs by large multi-state operators. Consider, for instance, Springfield, MA, which has issued 10 retail HCA’s through an expensive and lengthy review process of many times that number of applicants, only to watch most of those HCAs change hands in a number of private transactions. As of today only two retail locations are operational in Springfield, both of which are owned by multi-state operators. Due to the municipal failure to successfully open regulated cannabis retail, our research indicates over 900 pounds of illegal marijuana enters Springfield every month, usurping law enforcement resources and presenting the collection of taxes which would better the city.
Top 10 Cities/Towns by Retail Cannabis shops per Capita…
Rank | City/Town | Marijuana Retails Per Capita |
1 | Provincetown | 0.001682368775 |
2 | Great Barrington | 0.0007215007215 |
3 | Rowley | 0.0006274509804 |
4 | Becket | 0.0004970178926 |
5 | West Tisbury | 0.0004551661356 |
6 | Northampton | 0.0004202857943 |
7 | Lanesborough | 0.000337723742 |
8 | Hopedale | 0.0003357958361 |
9 | Sheffield | 0.0003178639542 |
10 | Easthampton | 0.0003138731952 |
Number of Marijuana Retailers data derived from CCC public information. The population data used to calculate Retails per Capita was from the 2020 American Community Survey.
Will the presence of Euphorium cause parking & traffic problems for downtown Florence?
Many people have vivid memories of around the block lines at NETA and other early retailers in the state, however, those days are long gone; a quick drive around town will reveal at least some empty parking spaces at every cannabis retailer. However, we certainly expect to bring additional customers to Florence center, which is, after all, a commercial area with other local businesses who will benefit from this influx of customers as well.
We are currently speaking with the landlord of our location about re-striping the back parking lot to add plenty of additional parking to more than accommodate our customers. We also intend to work on incentives for our customers to utilize the rear parking lot in order to not affect any neighboring businesses that only have street parking. We are working on a concept that may allow for a rear entrance to also help keep our customers in the parking lot. Finally, we will be instituting an online ordering system to help keep customers’ time on site limited.
How will we divert/discourage kids in the neighborhood from purchasing cannabis?
First and foremost, we will have several layers of security and age verification to gain access to the store and purchase product. This will be aided by both a camera system and in person observation of the outside of the building and parking area to look for any situation that may indicate an underage person is waiting on a customer to purchase product for them. Retails relegated to less visible parts of town may increase access to products by minors. We will also be monitoring in both of these ways that there is no onsite use of any product. We also will not be advertising or displaying any type of cannabis product, image, incentives etc. on or in the windows. Any security violation involving public consumption or diversion of product will be immediately reported and is grounds for a violation with the Cannabis Control Commission.
We also intend on providing information on the effects of cannabis, addiction etc. and would like to partner with a local organization to help teach kids about the negative effects of underage cannabis use or poorly regulated items such as CBD which can be sold at gas stations, convenience stores etc. Educating kids about cannabis will prevent abuse, not hiding it.
What kind of community member will we be?
We are a small family-owned business and we intend to live in, and become an integral part of the Northampton/Florence community. Our intention is, and always has been, to be involved in the community through support of Veterans, First Responders, the Recovery community (as stated above), Parks & Rec projects and other non-profit programs through donations, fundraising events, and volunteering at events within the community such as 5k runs and youth athletics programs.
What about the study that shows a link between kids’ exposure to Marijuana advertising on Social Media and increased cannabis use?
The study states their question to adolescents was, “When you are using [PLATFORM], how often do you see ads or promotions for cannabis or related products?”
This study took place in Washington State where regulations for advertising are similar to Massachusetts but this is irrelevant as Social Media companies follow Federal rules on marijuana; regulated cannabis companies can not have paid ads or promotions on Social Media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Google Ads.
The study fails to control for unregulated “promotions for cannabis” through the Black market, influencers from pop culture, CBD and Hemp companies, etc.
As over 30 states have legalized cannabis in the last decade while adolescent use has remained flat, studies such as this belie the ignorance of researchers in seeking proper data from regulators and the regulated industry in order to conduct proper research.
What message does this send to Children?
We want to make clear that we understand the perspective of this question and empathize for those who feel that regulated cannabis is a message to be hidden from children while the ubiquitous message of alcohol, which is abused by and kills thousands of children a year, is neither questioned nor frowned upon by residents of Florence purportedly seeking to prevent harm to children, addicts, and the community. A deadly hypocrisy perpetrated by grandparents, doctors, parents, and others who need more education about cannabis as an opiate reducer and substitute for alcohol.
As the Florence Community Center provides Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every night and cannabis has shown to reduce alcohol use, is safer for roads, does not tend to increase teen use, and is used by 30%+ of adults, the message a cannabis store sends to children in a town with two liquor stores, four on-site alcohol consumption establishments, two breweries, keno, lottery, and a tobacco shop, is cannabis, like all of the other adult products, is for adults, it is regulated, and is accepted in our society by a majority of adults.
Furthermore, cannabis growing and consumption in residences, regardless of how many and what ages of children are present, has been sanctioned by the MA Department of Public Health since 2016. What message is the DPH sending to children?
Evidence-Based Impacts
“Youth cannabis access would most likely decline in regulated markets due to a lack of illicit markets.”
“Data reveals youth use either decreases or remains flat in regulated cannabis markets”
“We offer a tentative conclusion of public health importance: Legalized cannabis retail sales might be followed by the increased occurrence of cannabis onsets for older adults, but not for underage persons who cannot buy cannabis products in a retail outlet.”
“Individuals with a personal or family history of mental illness, particularly psychotic disorders, are likely at higher risk for adverse outcomes associated with cannabis use. Specific genes influence an individual’s ability to metabolize drugs including cannabinoids, which also leaves some at increased risk for adverse effects. “
Harm-reduction and educational strategies are key. Hiding, shaming, or punishing those with mental health issues for consuming cannabis can lead to hidden self-medication, preventing the aid of supportive health professionals.
“This systematic review and meta-analysis of 69 cross-sectional studies of 2152 cannabis users and 6575 comparison participants showed a small but significant overall effect size for reduced cognitive functioning in adolescents and young adults who reported frequent cannabis use. However, studies requiring abstinence from cannabis for longer than 72 hours had a very small, nonsignificant effect size.
Meaning Although continued cannabis use may be associated with small reductions in cognitive functioning, results suggest that cognitive deficits are substantially diminished with abstinence.”
“Although this meta-analysis shows a strong and consistent association between cannabis use and psychosis, a causal link cannot be unequivocally established. However, investigating modifiable factors with a substantial role in psychosis is useful for prevention programmes as the level of exposure to cannabis remains a very important risk marker for schizophrenia and psychosis in general... [I]t would seem justified to educate people at heightened risk of schizophrenia (eg, through having a family history of the disorder, or having experienced psychosis-like symptoms) of the potential additional risk of cannabis exposure.”
“Forty percent [of the sample group] have used cannabis as a substitute for alcohol, 26% as a substitute for illicit drugs and 66% as a substitute for prescription drugs. The most common reasons given for substituting were: less adverse side effects (65%), better symptom management (57%), and less withdrawal potential (34%) with cannabis.”
“These findings suggest that increasing safe access to medical cannabis may reduce the personal and social harms associated with addiction, particularly in relation to the growing problematic use of pharmaceutical opiates.”
Facts/Statistics Related to Marijuana Vs. Alcohol
Marijuana isn’t a highly addictive drug, but it is addictive. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) explains, “Fewer than 10% of those who try marijuana ever meet the clinical criteria for dependence, whereas 32% of tobacco users and 15% of alcohol users do.”5 While some substances are more addictive, less than 10% still reflects a large number of Americans
In 2019 14.5 million people 18+ are reported to have an alcohol use disorder also known as AUD, while 414,000 people between the ages of 12 and 17 have alcohol use disorder also known as AUD.
On average 95,000 people die every year from alcohol-related causes.
In 2015, about 4.0 million people in the United States met the diagnostic criteria for a marijuana use disorder
Using the two references above there are 10 million more people that have an alcohol disorder than a marijuana disorder.
- An average of 2,760 annual deaths in Massachusetts are attributable to excessive alcohol use.
- 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year.
- 1-in-10 Americans over the age of 12 have Alcohol Use Disorder
- Cannabis is non-toxic and does not cause organ failure. Thus, there are zero reported deaths. We feel providing a balance to what is available in Florence (alcohol) would be a net benefit in terms of harm
1-in-10 adults who use the drug can become addicted.
Based on the information between the above two references 1 in 10 Americans has AUD or alcohol use disorder whereas only 1 in 10 Americans CAN become addicted to marijuana but there is no guarantee they will.
You can’t overdose on cannabis in the way that you can overdose on, say, opioids. To date, there have not been any reported deaths resulting solely from cannabis use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
There are 2,200 alcohol poisoning deaths in the US each year
- 6 a day An average of 6 people die of alcohol poisoning each day in the US.
“Stoned drivers are a lot safer than drunk ones, new federal data show” -Washington Post
“A new study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that drivers who use marijuana are at a significantly lower risk for a crash than drivers who use alcohol. And after adjusting for age, gender, race and alcohol use, drivers who tested positive for marijuana were no more likely to crash than who had not used any drugs or alcohol prior to driving.”
From Study; “The effects of cannabis vary more between individuals than they do with alcohol because of tolerance, differences in smoking technique, and different absorptions of (THC.) Detrimental effects of cannabis use vary in a dose-related fashion and are more pronounced with highly automatic driving functions than with more complex tasks requiring conscious control, whereas alcohol produces an opposite pattern of impairment. Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies.
Cannabis users perceive their driving under the influence as impaired and more cautious,40 and given a dose of 7 mg THC (about a third of a joint), drivers rated themselves as impaired even though their driving performance was not; in contrast, at a BAC 0.04% (slightly less than two “standard drinks” of a can of beer or small 5 oz. glass of wine; half the legal limit in most US states), driving performance was impaired even though drivers rated themselves as unimpaired.41 Binge drinkers are particularly likely to rate themselves as unimpaired, possibly because they tend to become less sedated by high doses of alcohol
“At 100 feet, tobacco shops and off-sale alcohol outlets—but not MMDs [medical marijuana dispensaries]—experienced significantly higher property and violent crime rates than grocery/convenience stores,” researchers from four universities in California and Kansas, funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wrote in the study.
“Our data suggest tobacco shops may constitute nuisance properties associated with dangerous neighborhood conditions for crime and violence in South LA, and perhaps similar low-income urban communities of color,” the study, published online this week and scheduled to run in the March 2018 edition the journal Preventive Medicine, found.
In contrast, the authors suggested that several factors might account for lower crime rates found near medical cannabis dispensaries:
“(1) presence of visible property safeguards (e.g., security cameras), which may lower dispensary-related violence, (2) visual anonymity of many MMDs to passers-by including potential offenders, and (3) MMDs’ tendency to close or relocate quickly—e.g., by June 2015, few MMDs operated at their 2014 locations.”
The study analyzed 2014 crime data to examine the geography of all felony property and violent crimes occurring within 100, 200, 500, and 1,000-foot buffers of the three legal drug outlet types across South Los Angeles
July 2018 – A study published in the journal Police Quarterly indicates that police clearance rates—a figure that represents the number of crimes that resulted in an arrest divided by the total number of reported crimes—increased in both Colorado and Washington post-legalization.
December 2017 – Medical marijuana dispensaries seem to attract much lower neighborhood crime rates than stores dedicated to selling alcohol and tobacco products.
That’s the conclusion suggested by the results of a new study published this week.
June 2017 – In 2010 Los Angeles initiated a mass closing of two-thirds of the dispensaries in the city. Researchers discovered that the closures were associated with a significant increase in crime in the blocks immediately surrounding a closed dispensary, compared with the blocks around dispensaries allowed to remain open.
- The Effect of Medical Marijuana Laws on Crime: Evidence from State Panel Data, 1990-2006 PLOS, March 2014
Results did not indicate a crime exacerbating effect of medical marijuana laws on any of the Part I offenses [homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft]. Alternatively, state medical marijuana laws may be correlated with a reduction in homicide and assault rates. These findings run counter to arguments suggesting the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes poses a danger to public health in terms of exposure to violent crime and property crimes.
Marijuana and the 'Gateway Theory'
- "There is compelling and enduring evidence that marijuana is not a gateway drug, ... Yet, non-evidence-based political factors on both the left and the right remain the reason for the persistence of the gateway myth."
Sequentially, most consumers of illicit substances first experimented with either alcohol or tobacco
- "Alcohol is the most commonly used substance, and the majority of polysubstance using respondents consumed alcohol prior to tobacco or marijuana initiation. Respondents initiating alcohol use in sixth grade reported significantly greater lifetime illicit substance use and more frequent illicit substance use than those initiating alcohol use in ninth grade or later. ... Our results ... assert that the earlier one initiates alcohol use, the more likely that they will engage in future illicit substance use."
Statistically, the overwhelming majority of people to try marijuana do not go on to use other illicit drugs, and most typically cease their use of marijuana by middle age
- "[T]he majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other 'harder' substances."
US National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Is marijuana a gateway drug?" factsheet
- "Substance use tends to decline towards the end of young adulthood. This decline is true for alcohol as well as illicit drug use. ... For marijuana, ... peak use occurred at about age 19, remained stable for the next four to five years, and then declined."
In jurisdictions where marijuana is legally accessible, adults typically report decreasing their use of other controlled substances. In this sense, marijuana appears to act more as a potential ‘exit drug’ rather than as an alleged 'gateway'
- "[F]indings on cannabis substitution effect and the biological mechanisms behind it strongly suggest that cannabis could play a role in reducing the public health impacts of prescription and non-prescription opioids. ... The growing body of research supporting the medical use of cannabis as an adjunct or substitute for opioids creates an evidence-based rationale for governments, health care providers, and academic researchers to consider the implementation and assessment of cannabis-based interventions in the opioid crisis."
- "Among respondents that regularly used opioids, over three-quarters (76.7%) indicated that they reduced their use since they started medical cannabis. This was significantly ( p < 0.0001) greater than the patients that reduced their use of antidepressants (37.6%) or alcohol (42.0%). Approximately two-thirds of patients decreased their use of anti-anxiety (71.8%), migraine (66.7%), and sleep (65.2%) medications following medical cannabis."
In clinical settings, marijuana use is associated with reduced cravings for cocaine and opiates
- "In this longitudinal study, we observed that a period of self-reported intentional use of cannabis ... was associated with subsequent periods of reduced use of crack [cocaine]. ... Given the substantial global burden of morbidity and mortality attributable to crack cocaine use disorders alongside a lack of effective pharmacotherapies, we echo calls for rigorous experimental research on cannabinoids as a potential treatment for crack cocaine use disorders."
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135562/
[2] https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-7517-6-35
[4] https://www.northamptonrecoverycenter.org