GREENFIELD — The city’s first pot shop remains on standby after the initial goal to open by the end of February was missed.
Patriot Care, which already runs a medical marijuana business out of the former American Legion building behind Green Fields Market, has not commented on why it has not yet opened its recreational pot retail business and when it intends to start business. There are strict guidelines for marijuana businesses to follow with the state.
Before a pot shop can open, it has to pass a final, detailed approval process from the state’s Cannabis Control Commision.
The business recieved its final license for running a recreational pot shop in late January. At the time, city officials had signaled Patriot Care could open as soon as the end of the month, and if not then, by February.
Cities have typically adopted the 3 percent maximum tax on revenue from marijuana shops. The business statewide has shown to be extremely lucrative in its initial stages, especially in Northampton where Massachusett’s first pot shop opened in November.
By the end of February, $44.9 million in revenue has been generated from 14 weeks of recreational marijuana business in the commonwealth, according to state data. This most recent week $4.3 million was spent, with the typical person spending about $40 on their visit.
Nine communities already have pot shops open, according to the most recent license data from the Cannabis Control Commission, and four of which are in western Massachusetts: Easthampton, Fall River, Great Barrington, Hudson, Leicester, Northampton, Pittsfield, Salem and Wareham.
Aside from Greenfield, Patriot Care’s approved pot shop is Lowell has not yet open either. A retail store in Gardner, Worcester, Uxbridge and an additional one in Pittsfield are all approved to open.
Prior to opening after receiving a final license from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission, the business first will be: inspected again by the commission; all marijuana establishment inventory must be properly tagged and uploaded into the required seed-to-sale tracking system; the commission staff will confirm any conditions on the license have been met; all marijuana establishment agents must be successfully registered and properly badged; and then the commission will issue a notice to begin full operations.
Reach Joshua Solomon at: jsolomon@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264