Janet Kupris of Weymouth hopes to open Full Harvest Moonz at 101 Plaistow Road next summer. (Courtesy photograph)
Janet Kupris (WHAV News photograph)
With her proposed cannabis dispensary, Weymouth native Janet Kupris hopes to educate the masses on the medical benefits of marijuana. On Tuesday night, Haverhill residents got their first look at Full Harvest Moonz, the location Kupris intends to open next summer in the spot formerly occupied by Jimmy K’s restaurant at 101 Plaistow Road.
During her community outreach meeting—a necessary step in the licensing process required by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission—Kupris told WHAV how her background working in medical marijuana in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts can benefit Haverhill consumers.
“Towns that allow medical and recreational cannabis in their communities have a 24.8 percent decrease in opiate overdoses because they have access to cannabis,” she said. “It comes down to education: I think people still have that stigma in their head that it’s just about smoking a joint and getting high.”
Education on safe and appropriate methods of cannabis consumption is of paramount importance for Kupris, who currently works as the marketing director for Warwick, R.I.-based Summit Medical Compassion Center.
At her 4,200 square-foot dispensary, Kupris plans to market flower, transdermal patches, lotions, suppositories, edibles and other products with what the company says is “little to no THC.”
Intending to move into their new property in March with a goal of opening for business in July, Full Harvest Moonz is cognizant of the traffic and safety concerns among Haverhill residents.
Former Rochester, N.H. police chief Michael Allen serves as head of security, and has already met with Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro and his command staff to discuss use of the CPTED protocol, which prioritizes crime prevention through design. One way Full Harvest Moonz plans to do that is through a single entry and exit point at the front of the store. As is the case with other proposed Haverhill dispensaries, a shuttle service and appointment scheduling are planned.
Summed up the FBI-trained Allen: “You’d be proud to have a facility like this in your community.”