ORANGE — The Board of Selectmen has voted to issue letters of support to two applicants interested in establishing medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

There was no opposition when representatives from the Orange Alternative Health & Wellness Center and from the Happy Valley Compassion Center separately sat down with the selectmen to explain their intentions and ask for letters of support.

The nonprofits can now send applications of intent to the Massachusetts Department of Health for state licenses to operate registered medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Orange Alternative Health & Wellness Center was represented at a Wednesday meeting by Vice President Lisa Hurlburt, Chief Operating Officer Michael Rader Zaren and Chief Business Development Officer Tom Drouin.

Hurlburt explained the proposed dispensary would be in the secure building on East Main Street that used to house a Bank of America, though cultivation would be done in a separate location. She said there would be 32 cameras inside and outside the facility, which would also have full-time security guards. Rader Zaren said the nonprofit is willing to donate 4 percent of its annual profits to Orange. He said the industry is growing by 75 percent every year and he projected first-year sales at the proposed dispensary would be $8 million. He said that would result in a roughly $400,000 donation to the town.

“We want to make sure the town is, you know, rising with us,” he said.

Rader Zaren mentioned he has eight years of security management experience and two of the nonprofit’s executives worked in the medical marijuana industry in California and Arizona.

Selectman Richard Sheridan asked what would happen if recreational marijuana became legal in Massachusetts. Rader Zaren said that is up to the state DPH.

“That’s what we’re all still trying to figure out,” he said. “The transition, obviously, wouldn’t be that hard because we’re already established.”

The Greenfield-based Happy Valley Compassion Center was represented by Chief Executive Officer James Counihan, Chief Operating Officer Tim Van Epps and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Cloney.

Counihan said the nonprofit has outsourced its security operations to a nationwide firm. He said the state has named five key positions marijuana dispensaries must fill and one of those is a manager/director of security operations.

He also said he has met with Kevin Kennedy, Orange’s director of community development and planning, several times about the possibility of setting up a dispensary in town. The dispensary would be on Daniel Shays Highway.

Selectman Walter Herk mentioned the previous applicant’s donation offer and asked if Happy Valley would be willing to do the same. Counihan said, pending a letter of support, he and the other executives would expect “to negotiate a host agreement, for us being located in your town, that would cover more than just the economic benefit to the town.”

Happy Valley has eyed Bernardston as a possible location to grow its marijuana. Counihan has previously said Bernardston is a prime growing location due to the town’s rich farming history and skilled farmers in the area.

Selectman Kathy Reinig said she is generally in favor of having a marijuana dispensary in town. Herk and Sheridan said they are not opposed to the idea. But Reinig said the state will not approve two dispensaries in the same town. Sheridan said healthy business competition is good for the public.

You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258. On Twitter: @DomenicPoli