LOWELL — Medical-marijuana patients and advocates stood in protest during the opening of the city’s first dispensary Tuesday, saying that Patriot Care Corp. is “unfair” because its lobbyist has formed a political committee that opposes regulating marijuana like alcohol, which they believe would create a monopoly on the industry.

Lobbyist Dan Delaney, a former Department of Public Health official, created “Safe Cannabis Massachusetts,” which is expected to oppose the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol.

Before the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., a group of about 13 protesters gathered across the street from the Industrial Avenue facility, holding signs that said “Patriot Care Shame,” “Patriot Care Supports Prohibition,” and “Patriot Care isn’t Fair.”

The protesters were with The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, also known as MassCann/NORML, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol, and some independent marijuana patients who said they oppose the actions by Delaney.

“We want to communicate the fact that Dan Delaney has formed a committee to oppose the effort to end prohibition in Massachusetts,” said Jim Borghesani, the director of communication for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol. “Dan participates in the marijuana industry, Dan profits from the marijuana industry, and now Dan wants to create a monopoly on the industry for himself and his largest client, Patriot Care.”

Inside, Patriot Care officials, Mayor Edward Kennedy and City Manager Kevin Murphy cut the facility’s grand opening ribbon.

“I hadn’t noticed” the protesters, said Nicholas Vita, the CEO of Columbia Care, Patriot Care’s parent company. “We provide health care and access to medical marijuana, so it’s really a non-issue.”

For more on this story, check lowellsun.com and Wednesday’s newspaper.

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