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Controversy surrounding medical marijuana dispensary locations continues

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – Despite assurances, several Boston city councilors are not sold on the proposed location for a medical marijuana dispensary in Roxbury.

A medical marijuana company wants to open a dispensary at 70 Southampton Street. Andrew D'Angelo, the director of Green Heart Holistic Health shared his plan with Boston city leaders Tuesday afternoon.

"We will create the kind of secure, attractive, yet highly discreet secure facility that can begin to shift the optics and reality of the surrounding neighborhood," he said.

Some city officials expressed concern about the location, which is just south of Boston Medical Center, near a jail and a busy Methadone clinic.

"Obviously, we have some concerns with patients being victimized coming out of the facility and not only that also the delivery system," Boston Police Superintendent Bernie O'Rourke said.

D'Angelo also operates a dispensary in Oakland, Calif. If approved, he says every step will be taken to ensure the Southampton location in Boston is safe.

One other dispensary is also slated for Boston, but it may not be at the site originally proposed. Good Chemistry initially chose Boylston Street, not far from the Four Seasons and Arlington T-stop. At a meeting Tuesday, a lawyer for the company broke the news that they are now looking at other spots in the city and are not ready to say where.

"In hearing the concerns that this separate location would be a better suited location, but again this is just negotiations right now," said Jeff Drego.

Before the dispensaries open in Boston, the owners will have to get approval from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.