Retail Marijuana Stores Given OK To Open In Easthampton And Wareham

By the end of the week, there could be five retail marijuana stores open in Massachusetts.

The Cannabis Control Commission on Monday issued notices authorizing I.N.S.A., Inc. of Easthampton and Verilife of Wareham to begin selling non-medical marijuana to adults 21 or older. Both stores can open as early as Friday, according to the commission.

I.N.S.A, which already operates as a medical marijuana dispensary at 122 Pleasant St. in Easthampton, was also authorized Monday to begin manufacturing marijuana products and to grow between 50,001 and 60,000 square feet of marijuana. The company also has another location in Springfield but has only been approved to begin recreational sales in Easthampton.

I.N.S.A. secured its provisional retail license from the CCC on Aug. 9, and the facility was inspected by the CCC on Oct. 2.

Verilife, operated by Pharmacannis Massachusetts, Inc. at 112 Main St. in Wareham, is also a current medical dispensary planning to add recreational sales. It secured its provisional retail license from the CCC on Aug. 9, and the facility was inspected by the CCC on Oct. 9.

Verilife and I.N.S.A. will become the fourth and fifth recreational marijuana stores to open since Massachusetts voters legalized cannabis in 2016. Stores in Leicester and Northampton opened Nov. 20 and a shop opened in Salem on Dec. 15.

Through about two and a half weeks, the first two stores to open sold more than $7 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products, according to sales data released by the CCC a week ago.

CCC officials expect additional retail marijuana stores to come online on a rolling basis.

Regulators have now granted 52 provisional licenses, 17 final licenses, and have given the ultimate green light to begin operations to five retailers, two testing laboratories, two cultivators and two marijuana product manufacturers.