One of the Island’s two marijuana dispensaries is poised to change hands later this year. 

Fine Fettle, which has sold marijuana along State Road in West Tisbury since 2021, is planning to transfer ownership to Black Harbor Group. The two companies went to the West Tisbury select board on Wednesday, seeking approval for the transfer of ownership. 

The board unanimously approved the change, with the understanding that Black Harbor Group would get the property in compliance with the state’s Cannabis Control Commission regulations within six months. The board specifically had concerns with Fine Fettle’s external lighting at their dispensary, and raised the potential of a cease and desist if the issue wasn’t fixed. The lighting regulations comes from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

“Along with the vote for the change of ownership and control, the board would vote to send a letter to Black Harbor saying this must be done, and if it is not, your right to operate will be revoked,” town administrator Jennifer Rand said. 

The permit allows for both recreational and medical marijuana growth and retail. 

Erin Riley, an attorney for Black Harbor Group, was confident that the new company would be able to get the lighting plan established within the six-month timeframe.

“We’re comfortable with that hard stop, especially given that, if the board makes [the six month time period] a condition, we’re hoping that might help make sure that all parties, including the landlord, are working in good faith to make sure that an appropriate vendor is selected,” Ms. Riley said. 

Black Harbor Group did not give many details about future plans at Wednesday’s meeting. The company was established as a limited liability company in Massachusetts in early July. The managers are Monica Dean, Jamarhl Crawford, Kendall Mills and Cornell Mills.

All four managers live on the mainland, according to documents filed with the state. 

Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment before the Gazette’s deadline. 

Fine Fettle was the only legal commercial marijuana grow facility on the Vineyard, and the first retail outlet. The company announced in May that it had stopped growing marijuana and the company planned to close due to financial reasons. 

That caused a panic for Island Time, the other marijuana store on the Island, because for years the state maintained that Vineyard dispensaries could only sell marijuana grown on the Island. 

With the Island’s only grow facility shut down, Island Time also closed its doors for several weeks. 

Retail shops on the Vineyard and Nantucket petitioned the state to allow them to ship in marijuana products from the mainland. In June, the Cannabis Control Commission approved a new regulation that allowed the transportation of marijuana across state waters for the first time.

With a new ownership group, both Black Harbor Group and Fine Fettle’s owner Benjamin Zachs hope to revitalize the cannabis industry on the Island. 

“Black Harbor intends to operate within all the rules and regulations for the town,” Ms. Riley. “We’re excited to come in and do business and be a part of the fabric of your community.”