Natick Postpones Recreational Marijuana Application Deadline

NATICK, MA — Natick has pushed back an application deadline for marijuana businesses seeking to open in town. The town began accepting business inquiries in February with a deadline set for May 4 — but that date has now moved back to June 8.

Natick has granted a special permit for a medical dispensary to open in town. The Bountiful Farms medical dispensary could open sometime this year in a building at 13 Mercer Road. No recreational marijuana business have begun the process of opening a store in town.

Natick has a cap of two retailers, but there's no cap on ancillary businesses like grow operations, manufacturers, and testing labs.

The moving of the application deadline is due to other town departments tied up with responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

"With the Health Department and Police Departments at the forefront of COVID-19 response and central to the review of applications under the adult use marijuana establishments RFI, this review is one of those places where reasonable accommodations are necessary," Natick Economic Development Director James Freas wrote to the Board of Selectmen on April 17.

The full list of requirements for the marijuana RFI is located on the town website.