The state of pot in Boston
One year after the first recreational pot shops opened in Massachusetts, Boston shops are limited to medical customers and the City Council is overhauling the city’s regulatory process.
Thirteen prospective pot businesses have signed host community agreements with the city as of this week.
The businesses looking to sell pot for recreational purposes are: Ascend Mass at 268-274 Friend St. near North Station, Berkshire Roots at 251 Meridian St. in East Boston, Core Empower at 401 Centre St. in Hyde Park, East Boston Bloom at 71 Maverick Square in East Boston, Medmen at 120 Brookline Ave. in the Fenway neighborhood, Pure Oasis at 430 Blue Hill Ave. in Roxbury, Silver Therapeutics at 717-721 American Legion Highway in Roslindale and Mojos at 1292 Blue Hill Ave. in Mattapan.
Also having signed agreements are potential medical dispensaries by Apothca at 54A Hyde Park Ave. in Hyde Park, Liberty Compassion at 591 Albany St. in the South End, Mayflower Medicinals at 230 Harvard Ave. in Allston and NS AJO Holdings at 50 Clapp St. in Dorchester. Also, Green Line at 100 Hampden St. in the South End has an agreement to grow pot and manufacture the ensuing products.
On Wednesday, the City Council approved a sweeping rewrite of the pot regulatory processes, passing an ordinance by Councilor Kim Janey that moves toward creating what’s effectively a pot-only licensing board and a fund aimed at supporting minorities and city residents, especially ones who have been arrested for marijuana-related offenses.
Shaleen Title of the Cannabis Control Commission, the state regulatory body for pot, attended the council meeting Wednesday and said she supported the ordinance, adding that this could be a model for other cities and towns around the state.
“More transparency is better,” Title said. “Cities have a role to play.”
This all comes as the feds sniff around the pot industry in Massachusetts. Three years after the state legalized marijuana, it remains federally illegal, though the Department of Justice has taken a hands-off approach to pot shops in states that have legalized it.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling has subpoenaed Boston and other cities and towns, seeking documentation related to pot shops. This comes after the feds indicted Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia on extortion charges related to pot shops.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37qOaqI
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