What Curbside Cannabis Sales In MA May Look Like

WORCESTER, MA — After being closed for almost two months, recreational cannabis retailers across Massachusetts will be allowed to start selling again on Monday — but under much different conditions than before coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) issued guidelines to cannabis retailers about how they can offer curbside service to customers. All orders must be paid for online before arriving at a store, and no one will be able to go inside a store.

From there, cannabis retailers are devising different ways to deliver products.

The CommCan store along Route 109 in Millis has been selling curbside to medical marijuana patients in recent weeks, so the owners have a system in place. But they are making adjustments for the expected rush on Monday.

The Millis store is blessed with a suburban location with plenty of room. Customers will park in an adjacent lot and then tune into the store's low-power FM radio station to listen for their order. Once it's called, they'll drive to the front of the store and grab their order from an employee — almost like going to the drive-thru.

CEO Marc Rosenfeld said he expects crowds on Monday, but has confidence the store's system will keep things orderly. He says CommCan is the only store in the state with its own FM station.

"The biggest thing we can do is be open, and be efficient at it," Rosenfeld said.

Other stores don't have the luxury of an adjacent parking lot.

At Good Chemistry near Kelley Square in Worcester, parking is usually tight. The store will begin accepting orders at 9 a.m. Tuesday, and will send buyers a text message when an order is ready to be picked up, according to a statement from the company. Patrons will need to park and then possibly wait in line outside the store to grab items from near the front door. Good Chemistry will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for recreational sales.

"We want to thank all of our customers, patients and our team for their ongoing support and patience as we navigate this new way of providing safe access for our adult-use customers," the statement said.

Temescal Wellness, with locations in Hudson and Pittsfield, is offering detailed, step-by-step instructions to customers ahead of Monday. Each customer will get an individual appointment to come pick up their product.

Recreational cannabis stores closed near the end of March when Gov. Charlie Baker shuttered nonessential businesses. Medical marijuana sales were allowed to continue. The CCC on Monday began allowing all cannabis-related businesses except retail to start back up again.

Aside from paying online and buying curbside, all dispensaries are asking customers to observe social-distancing guidelines, and wear face coverings.

So far, no stores have announced any re-opening celebrations, but CommCan is giving medical buyers $10 off any order this week — a thank-you for sticking with the business through coronavirus.

"We couldn't have come through this without them," Rosenfeld said.