State Approves First Retail Marijuana License For Salem

SALEM, MA -- Alternative Therapies Group, which already runs a medical marijuana dispensary in Salem, received state approval late last week for its license to sell the drug for recreational use. The state license was the last major hurdle for ATG, which now needs to complete its supply chain permits. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Ward 5 City Councilor Josh Turiel said ATG would "soon be open for business."

Another 12 companies are now vying for the four remaining licenses the state will issue for Salem. Six of those companies have gotten approval at the local level from the Salem Zoning Board of Appeals. One of those companies, Witch City Gardens, has also received a special permit from the ZBA to grow marijuana in their Jefferson Avenue facility.

Meanwhile, CDX analytics is applying with the state to test recreational marijuana. The company already tests medical marijuana. Massachusetts standards for marijuana safety testing are based on the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and look for total aerobic colony count, total yeast and mold, biotolerant gram-negative, E. coli, Salmonella, and coliforms.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).