The West Tisbury select board unanimously approved the transfer of Fine Fettle's marijuana dispensary on State Road to Black Harbor Group, marking a pivotal shift for one of the Island's two cannabis retailers. This change comes as Fine Fettle winds down operations after halting cultivation earlier this year, forcing temporary closures across the Island's limited market. The approval includes a strict six-month deadline for the new owner to resolve longstanding lighting violations, underscoring local regulators' commitment to compliance amid broader state policy evolution.
Approval Hinges on Regulatory Fixes
Fine Fettle has operated along State Road in West Tisbury since 2021, holding the Island's sole permit for both recreational and medical marijuana growth and retail. The company sought board approval on Wednesday for the ownership transfer to Black Harbor Group, a Massachusetts limited liability company formed in early July. Board members expressed sharp concerns over the dispensary's external lighting, which violates regulations set by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
Town administrator Jennifer Rand outlined the board's conditions: Black Harbor must bring the property into full compliance with Cannabis Control Commission rules within six months, or face revocation of operating rights and potential cease-and-desist orders. Erin Riley, Black Harbor's attorney, affirmed confidence in meeting the timeline, noting that formalizing the deadline as a condition would encourage cooperation from all parties, including the landlord, to select compliant vendors.
Island Cannabis Market Faces Supply Crisis
Fine Fettle's May announcement to cease growing marijuana due to financial pressures triggered widespread disruption. As the Island's only legal commercial cultivation site, its shutdown left retailers without local supply, since state rules long required Vineyard dispensaries to source marijuana grown on-Island. Island Time, the other dispensary, closed for several weeks as a result.
Retailers on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket petitioned the Cannabis Control Commission, leading to a June regulation change that permits transporting marijuana across state waters from the mainland for the first time. This adjustment averted a total market collapse but highlights the fragility of isolated cannabis economies under prior restrictions.
New Ownership Signals Revival Efforts
Black Harbor Group's managers—Monica Dean, Jamarhl Crawford, Kendall Mills, and Cornell Mills—all reside on the mainland, per state filings. The company offered few specifics on future plans during the meeting and did not respond to comment requests by deadline. Still, Riley emphasized intent to operate fully within town rules and integrate into the community fabric.
Both Black Harbor representatives and Fine Fettle owner Benjamin Zachs expressed optimism about revitalizing Island cannabis under new ownership. The transfer could stabilize supply chains post the recent regulatory shift, potentially fostering growth in a sector strained by local limits and financial hurdles, while testing the new owners' ability to navigate stringent oversight.
