Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said he understands that the subject of marijuana facilities is still somewhat controversial.

But he points to the fact that voters, in 2012, statewide and in Taunton endorsed the use of medical marijuana, and four years later voted to allow production and sale of recreational marijuana.

Hoye said Commonwealth Alternative Care — which in 2016 was granted a special permit by the City Council for its hybrid grow-and-sell model — has donated money to local nonprofits such as the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the annual Lighting of the Green celebration.

The Mozzone Boulevard facility, he said, with its job creation will provide “an economic stimulus to the area.”

John Greene, CAC’s community development director, in 2016 told the City Council that the nonprofit group was prepared to pay the city $225,000 the first two years of operation — of which $100,000 would be used to hire two police officers, with the rest deposited into both the Mayor’s Worthy Cause account and city coffers.

Hoye, however, said his office has been negotiating the terms of that agreement as result of changes to CAC’s original business model.

The mayor says his office “gets calls all the time” from marijuana-based non-profit groups, especially those interested in establishing a cultivation facility within city limits.