CHICOPEE- Chicopee’s second recreational marijuana shop bills itself as uniquely local.
Theory Wellness started working with the City in 2018.
The business' shift supervisor Blake Gurgul said, "With the tight regulations the state has on everything, its been a long road."
The Dispensary is debuting the first outdoor, farm grown cannabis on the East Coast for recreational sales.
It’s also a first for the growing industry in Massachusetts.
Theory Wellness' Director of Marketing Thomas Winstanley said, "For us this represents a big change in the way the industry runs. A lot of the cannabis in Massachusetts is grown indoors, so we couldn't be more excited about outdoor cultivation."
A unique partnership with a farmer from Sheffield is making it possible.
Winstanley said, "The difference is outdoor cultivation has a little less environmental footprint because you're using the suns energy to produce all of it."
The City of Chicopee is benefiting from the new business too. Theory Wellness is anticipating tax revenues between $250,000 to $500,000.
"From their 3% from the sales tax, along with another 3% from the host agreement," Winstanley said.
This is the company's third dispensary to open in Massachusetts. In this location, there are 50 staff members.
"Chicopee is a very interesting place because we have found a lot of really great teammates to join this team here," Winstanley said.
Also making this shop unique is free pour over coffee provided by local company Chemex. And employees like Gurgul say it's not the only thing setting them apart.
Gurgul said, "Service, one word, easy, service. I think we have the best service style with our deli style weighing you get to see the buds."