The Solar Cannabis Company’s latest adult-use dispensary, which opened at 493 Faunce Corner Road on Friday, March 10, proudly advertises itself as being “right across from the new Dunkin’ Donuts.”

Solar Cannabis CEO Edward Dow, a 2001 graduate of Bishop Stang High School, hopes that the dispensary will become a local staple like Dunkin’. 

“That would be a fantastic goal,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s easy-in, easy-out, convenient, which is what everyone’s looking for these days... Being right beside Dunkin’ Donuts will drive [up] traffic there as well.”

The location is the first adult-use cannabis dispensary in Dartmouth. 

The town’s lack of competition and proximity to the highway made it an attractive location to Dow. 

“We’re thrilled,” he said. “Love the location, love the town.”

The Planning Board granted a special permit to the dispensary in February 2021.

While Solar Cannabis and the Select Board signed a host community agreement in May of that year, Dow said that changing state regulations have caused that agreement, and others like it across the state, to go up in smoke.

The host community agreement originally stipulated that three percent of the dispensary’s gross sales would go to Dartmouth.

Now that that is no longer the case, Dow must find other ways to make “a helpful financial impact” in the town where he came of age.

He wants to partner with Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes and other officials on local economic and social initiatives.

“It’s too early to discuss in Dartmouth,” he said, “because these new regulations just went into play late last year.” 

For now, Dow said, the dispensary is “a jobs provider and another good business in town.” 

The dispensary is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. 

It will hold its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, March 28 at 11 a.m.