HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-09-21 Public Comment - E. Corriveau - Recreation Marijuana CapFrom:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Tuesday, November 9, 2021 2:01:24 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:11/09/2021 2:01 PM
Response #:1287
Submitter ID:45627
IP address:69.163.91.129
Time to complete:18 min. , 57 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
First Name EJ
Last Name Corriveau
Email Address ej@thinkhighercaregiving.com
Phone Number 6038014456
Comments
City Commissioners,
My name is EJ Corriveau, owner, and operator of Think Higher Caregiving. I want to express my concern
about the uncapping of dispensary licenses within City Limits. I have been a resident of Bozeman since the
fall of 2007 when I began college at MSU. I graduated in 2013 with a Bachelors's in Exercise & Sports
Sciences. Over that time and since then, I witnessed Bozeman’s conserved take on the industry, rightfully so
with a consistently involving industry.
I have spent every waking moment since 2013 trying to build my company. Think Higher, in an attempt to
penetrate the highly competitive cannabis industry in Montana. Think Higher began in Four Corners where
we have been fortunate to see our mom and pops shop grow and become popular. With many unknowns
going into this transition to recreational cannabis we knew a Bozeman city license was critical to the long-
term success of Think Higher Caregiving.
Two years ago we started calling the Bozeman licenses department every week. Despite our efforts, we
were told on a consistent basis “none are available.” We started speaking with other companies who held
Bozeman licenses and we were able to come to an agreement with CannaMT. Part of this exchange
included me sacrificing part of my company to ensure long-term success. In June 2021, we were able to
successfully acquire CannaMT, in order to engulf their Bozeman City License. If these changes are to occur, I
view my long-term success as diminished.
Over the last two months, I have been contacted by a multitude of out-of-state companies in order to
figure out various ways to penetrate the Montana market. These companies have multi-millions of capital
that no one in the Montana cannabis industry will be able to match successfully. Once these industries
enter in 2023, the game is over for all Montana hard-working cannabis businesses. One of the edges is this;
the current 20 holders do have the safety they will not be pushed away thus being able to continue offering
mom and pop environments that have built this industry here in Montana.
This is a significantly drastic change that will not only affect many cannabis companies including our
neighbors who run non-cannabis businesses. A quick decision is not wise at this time as so many people will
be affected. With two other townships and counties in Montana backpedaling, such as Missoula, providing
time to access will ensure we are not in a similar situation to those other townships and counties.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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