By Benjie Cooper
IG: @nuglifenews
YouTube: Lucid’s Vlog
In 2016, Massachusetts voters passed Question 4, a ballot initiative that made recreational cannabis legal in the state. But while home cultivation has been allowed since December 15, 2016, the regulatory system has taken much longer to initiate.
The first cultivation license was granted on July 1, 2018, and the first recreational marijuana shops are now finally preparing to open their doors for business to legal adults.
On Friday, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) granted New England Treatment Access in Northampton and Cultivate Holdings in Leicester approval to commence sales on Tuesday, November 20.
“This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state,” said CCC Chairman Steven Hoffman in a statement. “To get here, licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections, and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety as this new industry gets up and running.”
Hoffman encouraged people to act responsibly as legal sales begin.
“As patrons look forward to visiting Massachusetts stores,” he said. “We hope they will do their part by first familiarizing themselves with the law and understanding what is required of responsible consumers.”
Massachusetts law prohibits the public consumption of cannabis and interstate transport, and bars retailers from selling more than the legal possession limit of one ounce of flower or five grams of concentrate in a single transaction.
