Jajuga Pays $2,500 Fine for Late Notice of Marijuana Lobby

Former state Senator and Methuen City Councilor James P. Jajuga paid a $2,500 fine for late disclosure of his work to site a medical marijuana store in Haverhill.

A spokesman for William F. Galvin, secretary of the commonwealth, said Tuesday Jajuga filed last May 22—or about five months late.

“He was assessed a late fee of $2,500. The disclosure should have been on the July to December, 2013, period,” Brian McNiff told WHAV News. Last week, WHAV reported Jajuga was paid $66,500 by Healthy Pharms to “garner local municipal support in the City of Haverhill for Healthy Pharms, Inc. to operate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary in that city.” State law requires “a penalty for any statement which is filed by an executive or legislative agent later than the prescribed date.”

McNiff said he did not know whether complaints led to Jajuga being compelled by the state to file.

The absence of Jajuga’s report created confusion last January 31 when his client received a provisional license from the state Department of Public Health. Local officials said they may have had chance meetings with Jajuga, but were unaware of his critical role at Healthy Pharms. Economic Development and Planning Director William Pillsbury Jr. disputed Healthy Pharms claims the company “has obtained local support for the dispensary location from William Pillsbury Jr.”

Haverhill City Councilor Robert H. Scatamacchia said an undated letter of support signed by him was obtained under false pretenses. Healthy Pharms used the letter as “Evidence of Local Support.” He said Mayor James J. Fiorentini supplied the letter and retyped it on to Haverhill City Council letterhead, on behalf of Jajuga.

The required lobbying disclosure shows Jajuga represented Healthy Pharms between Oct. 20 and Nov. 21, 2013. The same form also shows campaign contributions Jajuga made to local, elected officials during the same period. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 3, Section 43 requires “the names of the candidate or political committee to whom or to which the contribution was made, and the amount and date of each contribution.”

List of provisionally approved medical marijuana stores in Massachusetts.

List of provisionally approved medical marijuana stores in Massachusetts.

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