OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A local resident has proposed a business that would provide space for medical marijuana growers as well as medical research and product development.

Pierre Bouthiller said he is working with some business partners on a proposal for a business at 60 Saco Ave., which is now vacant but once housed a post office, and more recently a veterinary clinic. Bouthiller said he would operate the business under a lease agreement.

The proposed business would not be a medical marijuana dispensary. There are currently eight medical marijuana dispensaries statewide, which is the maximum allowed under state law.

Bouthiller said he was not convinced for many years of the medical benefits of marijuana, until he became a caregiver for a close friend who had esophageal cancer.

“It was horrific,” said Bouthiller.

He said his friend started taking marijuana, and it reduced his anxiety and nausea, and he began to have an appetite again.

“It just made an enormous difference,” said Bouthiller. “It was just such a miraculous assist for him.”

Bouthiller said there’s a lot of anecdotal reports regarding medical marijuana, but there’s a lack of hard data, and he would like to provide a space for scientists to research its medical use. Bouthiller said he would also like to subdivide space for to up to four caregivers ”“ those who are registered through the state to grow medical marijuana for patients.

Under state law, caregivers can grow plants for up to five patients, and can grow up to six plants per patient. There are 137 registered caregivers in York County, according to John A. Martins, spokesman for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Bouthiller said the building would have a security system, a lighting system, a state-of-the-art air system and be climate controlled. Many caregivers currently grow marijuana in their home, which puts them at increased risk of theft and break-ins, he said, and this facility would be more secure.

Bouthiller said state law will soon allow patients in hospice to use edible marijuana products, and said his proposed business could allow a caregiver with a relationship with a hospice to create edible marijuana products.

He envisions “a very quiet operation” with low traffic, he said.

The proposed business is up for discussion at Thursday night’s planning board meeting at 7 p.m. at town hall.

Town Planner Jeffrey Hinderliter said there hasn’t been a formal application for the proposal filed. He said the planning board is going to discuss the proposal and get a better understanding of it so it can determine whether the proposed business is permissible at the Saco Avenue location, which is located in the General Business 2 district.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].