BOSTON — It's been more than two years since voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana. This week, the state could see the first actual sales.
Facilities in Leicester, Northampton, and Wareham say they are ready to go, but just need the green light, which could come in the form of a letter this week.
In Northampton, New England Treatment Access says its ready for recreational business.
"Well, we've been preparing for this moment for really several years now," said Amanda Rositano.
Rositano is the director of operational compliance of the Conz Street facility, which already operates a medical marijuana dispensary.
The biggest difference between recreational and medical marijuana will be the cost; recreational is subject to a 20 percent tax under state law.
"We will have two separate lines for patients and adult use consumers. We will have a reserve of product for our patients," said Rositano.
She says they have increased production to handle demand and will hire a police detail for traffic and crowd control. The product will also have childproof packaging.
The official go-ahead will come from the Cannabis Control Commission, which will issue "commence operations" notices.
In addition to the Northampton shop, PharmaCannis Massachusetts in Wareham and Cultivate in Leicester have retail licenses are are awaiting final word.
"The issue that we're faced with is we just don’t know how many people will show up when Cultivate opens for recreational sales," Leicester Police Chief James Hurley told Boston 25 News last month.
Hurley says he's been working with the commission and the owner of Cultivate to handle hundreds or potentially thousands of new visitors.
Last week, the state approved two recreational marijuana testing labs, which was seen as a final hurdle to recreational sales as all product must be tested by a state-approved lab before its sold.
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