Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | May 13, 2019 | wbjournal.com Diamonds in the rough Towns like Uxbridge and Athol lacking major industry have embraced cannabis JUST SAY KNOW. Events, education and outreach to end stigma and create inclusive opportunities within the region's fastest-growing industry elevatene.org F O C U S T H E B U S I N E S S O F M A R I J U A N A BY ZACHARY COMEAU Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer W hen Caroline Frankel was scouting locations for a retail cannabis dispensary in Central Massachusetts, the first town she reached out to – Northbridge – wouldn't even hear her idea. "ey didn't even want to entertain a dialogue," Frankel said. Northbridge hadn't set up its marijuana zoning yet. She then settled on Uxbridge, and her business, Caroline's Cannabis, helped open the town to potentially seven more cannabis businesses. Town officials are now considering raising its cap on pot retailers to accommodate the lucrative industry due to create extra tax revenue with a 3% local sales taxs. "I'm so happy I did," she said. While half of all Massachusetts cities and towns have enacted or are actively considering a ban or moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses, towns like Uxbridge and Athol in Worcester County have gone in the other direction, seeing an opportunity in welcoming the controversial industry with open arms. As of May 8, Uxbridge has signed nine host community agreements with cultivators, retailers and manufacturers to bring in create more than 100 jobs and generate about $1 million sales and property tax revenue. Selectmen have even discussed a fall Town Meeting arti- cle to li the three retail store limit. Municipal officials have welcomed the industry in a town struggling to raise new revenue from commercial develop- ments, which has sometimes impacted town services like in 2017 when the town voted against a $1.3-million tax override, leading to cuts across the school department. "When [marijuana companies] come and express an interest, we return that interest," said Michael Gallerani, Uxbridge economic development and community planner. e small town's Board of Selectmen have even authorized a host community agreement with a drive-thru retailer, the first of its kind in the state. Uxbridge lays claim to being the home of the state's first woman-owned small cannabis business in Caroline's Cannabis, which opened in March. Free of investors, Frankel paid for everything herself and navigated the complicated license applications without an expensive attorney. Frankel applied for a license with the state Cannabis Control Commission on June 1, the first day the application period opened and so far, there have been no issues at the town's first retailer, which was the 11th to open in the state. Other retailers in small towns have had issues with traffic, congestion and long lines, but not in Uxbridge. "When you don't hear anything bad, that's good news," Gallerani said. A growing industry In the building behind Caroline's on Douglas Street in Uxbridge, at least two other marijuana companies plan to cultivate and manufacture products, including Blackstone Valley Naturals run by two cannabis entrepreneurs who got their start in Colorado. Blackstone Valley Naturals is apply- ing to the Cannabis Control Com- mission for a microbusiness license to grow cannabis and manufacture oil and extracts. ose products will be sold to existing dispensaries, including Caro- line's Cannabis. Kevin MacConnell and Tim Phillips Caroline Frankel opened Massachusetts' first woman-owned small business adult- use marijuana retailer in Uxbridge.

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