A central Massachusetts medical marijuana dispensary in Leicester is now the proud recipient of the very first retail marijuana license in the state.
Cultivate Holdings has become the first business to be licensed to sell non-medical marijuana in the state of Massachusetts.
According to the company, it will be opening its doors as soon as regulators issue a final license.
The vote by the Cannabis Control Commission was unanimous and allows the dispensary to now operate as a retail marijuana shop.
The company currently grows, processes, and sells, medicinal marijuana on Main Street.
Sam Barber, president of Cultivate Holdings, said “There’s a few more details the CCC is working on, ironing out, but I feel like we are getting a lot closer.”
“I feel good about it. I’d rather have the program done in the right way and everyone feels comfortable with it. Our team has a tremendous amount of work getting ready for this big influx and we’re excited for it.,” Barber added. “We have to get all our product re-tested. We want to make sure our product is always safe and properly dosed for every patient and customer coming in.
“This is one of the most rigorous states to get through this licensing process, but I think it’s for the right thing,” he said. “It’s to be able to get the community comfortable that it’s going to be done in the right and safe way for anyone purchasing these products and the effect that it’s going to have on the community.
“We’re lucky,” he explained. “We have everything at our facility. We grow, we process, we have our kitchen there … In terms of having the ability to do it, we’re ready to go. Being the first, I think we’re doing all right.”