Marijuana manufacturer, Wareham officials close to reaching lease agreement

Jan 8, 2019

A marijuana manufacturer with a global reach planning to open in the historic Tremont Nail Factory District is close to reaching a lease agreement with the town of Wareham.

Colorado-based Organa Brands is looking to open a facility in a non-historic building in the district, located on a 7.2-acre site on Elm Street. Organa Brand representatives said plans call for processing 60 to 90 pounds of marijuana a day into products such as edibles. No products will be sold at the site.

According to Director of Planning & Community Development Ken Buckland, Organa Brands would pay $184,000 annually to operate in a warehouse that was built in the 1970s at the site. That figure will increase each year of Organa’s five-year lease with the town, said Buckland. Additionally, Organa Brands had agreed to pay the town 3 percent of gross sales with an annual cap of $300,000. That money will go into the town’s general fund, which can spent for any municipal purpose, pending Town Meeting approval.

Buckland stressed that a final deal hasn’t been reached, but the parties are close.

“When executed, this deal promises a low impact on town infrastructure and a high impact on local jobs and revenues,” said Buckland. “A spin-off benefit is that funds will be directly available to maintain and improve the historic Tremont Nail Factory buildings and allow us to reach our vision for the property.”