The West Tisbury select board unanimously approved the transfer of one of Martha's Vineyard's two marijuana dispensaries to new owners on Wednesday. Fine Fettle, operating along State Road since 2021, will hand over its permit for recreational and medical marijuana growth and retail to Black Harbor Group. This shift comes amid past compliance issues and recent industry turbulence on the Island, signaling potential stability for local cannabis access.
Approval Ties Ownership Change to Lighting Compliance Deadline
The board conditioned its approval on Black Harbor Group bringing the property into full compliance with state Cannabis Control Commission regulations within six months. Town administrator Jennifer Rand emphasized that failure to resolve issues, particularly external lighting violating Martha's Vineyard Commission rules, would prompt a cease-and-desist order and revocation of operating rights. Fine Fettle faced prior scrutiny over these lights, highlighting ongoing tensions between local operations and regional oversight.
Erin Riley, attorney for Black Harbor Group, expressed confidence in meeting the deadline. She noted the six-month "hard stop" as a motivator for cooperation among all parties, including the landlord, to select compliant vendors. This structured timeline addresses immediate regulatory gaps while allowing the new owners time to prepare.
New Owners Enter Amid Recent Industry Disruptions
Black Harbor Group, formed as a Massachusetts limited liability company in early July, lists mainland residents Monica Dean, Jamarhl Crawford, Kendall Mills, and Cornell Mills as managers. The company offered few specifics on future plans during the meeting but affirmed its commitment to town rules. Representatives did not respond to comment requests by deadline.
Fine Fettle's exit stems from its May announcement to halt marijuana cultivation and close due to financial pressures, ending its role as the Island's sole legal commercial grow facility and first retail outlet. This triggered closures at Island Time, the remaining dispensary, as state rules long required Vineyard outlets to source marijuana locally. Retailers on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket successfully petitioned the Cannabis Control Commission, which in June approved transporting products across state waters for the first time.
Revitalization Hopes for Island Cannabis Landscape
Both Black Harbor Group and Fine Fettle owner Benjamin Zachs see the ownership change as a chance to breathe new life into the Island's cannabis sector. Riley underscored the group's intent to integrate responsibly into the community fabric. The permit's dual authorization for growth and retail positions the new operators to potentially restore on-Island production, easing past supply constraints and supporting local economic activity.
This transition reflects broader policy evolution in Massachusetts cannabis regulation, where initial restrictions on insular markets have given way to flexible transport rules. For Vineyard residents, it promises continued access without the disruptions that briefly shuttered options, while enforcing standards that balance business viability with community and environmental concerns.
