State gives Good Chemistry OK to be first adult-use cannabis retailer in Worcester

Legal pot in Worcester took a major step forward Thursday, as the Cannabis Control Commission approved Good Chemistry of Massachusetts Inc. in the Canal District for retail marijuana sales.

“We are thrilled with the Cannabis Control Commission’s decision to approve Good Chemistry’s application for an adult use cannabis license in Worcester,” said Matthew Huron, Good Chemistry CEO, in a statement. “With this final approval, Good Chemistry Nurseries is preparing to open for adult use as soon as possible at our dispensary located at 9 Harrison Street in the Canal District.”

The business is the first in the city to receive CCC final approval for recreational sales.

But before sales can start, a city spokesman said, the city License Commission must approve traffic-mitigation measures and a parking plan to address potential overflow parking needs - conditions established when that commission approved the business for the city’s first retail license to sell adult-use marijuana. The plan must be submitted at least two weeks before recreational sales begin.

The License Commission is scheduled to next meet on Feb. 28.

In addition, the CCC will again inspect the final licensee, make sure all inventory is properly tagged and uploaded into the required seed-to-sale tracking system, make sure all store employees are successfully registered and have the appropriate badges, and ensure conditions placed on the final license have been met before issuing a notice to commence full operations.

Good Chemistry opened a medical marijuana dispensary at 9 Harrison St. in August.

Also that month, the Planning Board unanimously approved a special permit for Good Chemistry to allow recreational sales at the Harrison Street location.

In November, the company received the city’s first retail license to sell adult-use marijuana. It was the last local approval the company needs for adult-use sales. But the license came with conditions, including a parking and a traffic plan.

At its meeting Thursday, the Cannabis Control Commission granted three final licenses to Good Chemistry - allowing indoor cultivation and product manufacturing at the company’s Bellingham facility and retail sales in Worcester.

The votes were four in favor, with one abstention.

Under state law, Worcester is required to provide for establishment of up to 15 adult-use retail marijuana stores. The city has approved and/or is negotiating community host agreements with 13 proposed retail establishments. The city has also signed community host agreements with three recreational manufacturing facilities.

Good Chemistry anticipates gross sales of $4 million annually for recreational marijuana. Under the terms of the community host agreement it has signed with the city, Good Chemistry will pay the city an annual fee of $120,000, or 3 percent of gross sales, whichever is the bigger number.

Cannabis Control Commission