Aina de Lapparent Alvarez and Larry Parnass are reporting for The Berkshire Eagle a network of indoor cannabis farms could soon replace the long-gone anchor stores at the Berkshire Mall, located outside of Pittsfield, in Lanesborough, Mass. The Lanesborough Select Board this week agreed to begin negotiations for a Host Community Agreement with JMJ Holdings Corp., a Massachusetts company looking to buy the now closed mall and build out its former commercial spaces as cannabis farms. The sale of the property to Mehran Namiri-Kalantari of Santa Monica, Calif., for $8 million was recorded July 29. It is not yet clear what the nature of the relationship between the buyer and JMJ Holdings might be. Blake M. Mensing of JMJ Holdings, said the corporation plans to prepare space for cultivation, including the acquisition of licenses for manufacturing and distribution from the state Cannabis Control Commission. In so doing, the company would enable those interested in entering the industry to save time. The corporation would line up water supplies for cannabis cultivation and consider installing solar panels on the sprawling mall roof system, to supply power for indoor cultivation. The Berkshire Mall was build in 1988 and was closed in 2019, leaving Target the only business open in the 16.5-acre center off Cheshire Road. A community outreach meeting is planned for August or September. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.