LEICESTER, Mass (WBZ-AM) — A historic day - as retail cannabis sales begin.
It has been more than 2 years since voters in Massachusetts approved legal retail purchases of cannabis.
Two retails stores are set to open their doors at 8 a.m. Tuesday
In Leicester at Cultivate there is a lot of excitement. Ralph Raposa of Fall River drove more than 50 miles to be here and be one of the first 1st to make a legal purchase.
"I use it recreationally although it does help I've found some of my you know issues with health…It calms me down,” he said.
Sam Barber is Cultivate's President and Co-owner he says all hands are on deck today and this is big for his company and the Commonwealth
“ now are creating you know high paying enjoyable jobs that people are excited about as well as you know a huge amount of tax revenue for the state.” Barber said.
Over at New England Treatment Access, (NETA) in Northhampton, Amanda Rositano, Director of Compliance, staff have been working around the clock for the opening day.
Speaking with WBZ NewsRadio, Rositano says that customers can purchase up to an ounce of flower or up to 5 grams of concentrate per the State law. They will, however, limit all flower purchases to 1/8 of an ounce but no limits on infused product.
"People cannot consume in public but are you know are welcome to consume within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the privacy of their home or in a private space," she said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Ben Parker (@RadioBenParker) reports.