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Date: 1/4/2022
SPRINGFIELD – A Springfield resident who applied twice for an adult use cannabis dispensary license in the city has taken steps to find out why his application was denied in the second licensing round.
Frank Dailey of Boston Bud Factory, which has a location in Holyoke, has filed a Freedom of Information Request with the city of Springfield Procurement Department, in accordance with Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10). Boston Bud Factory has requested documents related to Phase 2 of adult use applications and Cannabis RFP/Q No. 21-107.
Dailey explained to Reminder Publishing that his company applied for a license during the city’s first round of applicants. He said his intent at that time was to have a dispensary on Island Pond Road. He is a resident of East Forest Park and wanted to bring a cannabis business to that part of Springfield.
“This is why I started in the first place,” he said.
When the Island Pond Road location became unavailable, he had two other locations under consideration.
Dailey wrote, “Boston Bud Factory is a participant in the state’s Social Equity Program and was the first Social Equity Establishment open in Western Massachusetts. Boston Bud Factory co-owners Frank Dailey and Carlo Sarno live in Western Massachusetts, and the business has no outside investors or start up financing. Frank was born in Springfield, is an economic empowerment applicant, and previously served on the East Forest Park Civic Association Board. Frank is also an active volunteer at several local charities, including the Springfield Rescue Mission. In addition, Boston Bud Factory has been very active educating the community and the city of Springfield, holding the first cannabis educational event in East Forest Park in 2017 and then going on to host four local and successful Pioneer Valley Cannabis Industry Summits.”
Because he is a Springfield resident and has a track record in the industry, he is unsure what grounds were used to disqualify his applications.
“That’s the part that perplexes me,” he said.
Looking at the two dispensaries already open in the city, he said, “The selection makes no sense.” Both businesses are large corporate entities, and he asserted the cannabis business was supposed to be a local one.
He noted that Liberty Cannabis is a national company with locations in many states. “How were they chosen against us?” he asked.
Dailey added, “It makes me question the RFP/RFQ (Request for Proposals/Request for Qualifications) process. It should be pretty transparent.”