Fine Fettle Dispensary Transfers to Black Harbor Group After Board Approval
The West Tisbury select board has approved the sale of Fine Fettle, one of Martha's Vineyard's two marijuana dispensaries, to Black Harbor Group. This transfer comes as the Island's cannabis market faces uncertainty following Fine Fettle's decision to halt cultivation. The move promises continuity for retail sales while addressing longstanding compliance issues.
Approval with Strict Conditions on Lighting Compliance
Fine Fettle has operated along State Road in West Tisbury since 2021, holding the town's permit for both recreational and medical marijuana growth and retail. On Wednesday, representatives from Fine Fettle and the prospective buyer, Black Harbor Group, appeared before the board to request approval for the ownership change. The board voted unanimously to allow the transfer, but attached a firm six-month deadline for Black Harbor to bring the property into full compliance with state Cannabis Control Commission regulations.
Central to the board's concerns was the dispensary's external lighting, which violates rules set by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. Town administrator Jennifer Rand stated that the board would send a letter to Black Harbor Group mandating corrections, with revocation of operating rights as the consequence for failure. Erin Riley, attorney for Black Harbor, expressed confidence in meeting the timeline. She noted that conditioning approval on the six-month period would encourage cooperation among all parties, including the landlord, to select an appropriate lighting vendor.
Black Harbor Group's Profile and Limited Details
Black Harbor Group formed as a Massachusetts limited liability company in early July, with managers Monica Dean, Jamarhl Crawford, Kendall Mills, and Cornell Mills—all mainland residents, per state filings. The company offered few specifics on its operational plans during the meeting. Riley affirmed Black Harbor's commitment to follow all town rules and expressed enthusiasm about integrating into the West Tisbury community.
Company representatives did not respond to requests for comment before press deadlines. The acquisition positions Black Harbor to take over a facility that was the Island's sole legal commercial grow operation and first retail outlet.
Crisis in Island Cannabis Supply Chain
Fine Fettle announced in May that it had ceased growing marijuana and planned to close for financial reasons, sparking alarm across the Vineyard's limited cannabis sector. Previously, state policy required Island dispensaries to source marijuana exclusively from local growers, leaving Island Time—the other dispensary—without supply. Island Time shuttered for several weeks as a result.
Retailers on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket petitioned the Cannabis Control Commission, which in June approved new rules permitting marijuana transport across state waters for the first time. Fine Fettle owner Benjamin Zachs and Black Harbor representatives now aim to revive the industry under the new ownership. This shift could stabilize access for medical and recreational users while testing the viability of mainland-sourced products in an Island market shaped by geographic isolation and regulatory hurdles.
