For the past four months, Dartmouth has enjoyed its first recreational cannabis store, Solar Cannabis Company, on Faunce Corner Road. Two more retail locations — and only two — are approved to operate in town. 

A cultivation facility is in the works too.

Per state law, Dartmouth can grant up to three permits for cannabis retail stores. Each store receives a host community agreement, which is a list of rules and fees required for conducting business in town. 

The agreements are nearly identical between the three projects. In each, 3% of gross sales will be paid to the town annually on top of local sales taxes, and an annual gift of $50,000 for community benefits. The stores also need to have a staff hiring preference for Dartmouth residents, and make local charitable donations.

In March 2022, Plainville-based Apotho Therapeutics received host community agreements for its cultivation facility at the former indoor tennis club and a retail facility immediately in front, at the former New East Asian restaurant. 

Early in July, California-based cannabis retailer Megan’s Organic Market received its host community agreement.

Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes said the state is not clear on how many cultivation facilities a town is allowed, but no other cultivation projects are in development. 

In approving host community agreements, MacInnes said the town has “a pretty heavy vetting process.”

“We want to feel like the companies are vetted and well-established,” MacInnes said, explaining that the town wants the businesses to stay in business for an extended period. 

Apotho Therapeutics reported to the Select Board at a July 31 meeting that it expects to open its retail facility in early 2024. The company does not want to begin construction on the growing facility until the retail business opens, meaning the cultivation and manufacturing facility  will not finish until late 2024. 

Apotho is awaiting approval on a construction permit from MassDOT before it can get started on the retail facility. 

Select Board member Shawn McDonald said he “still has concerns about the dispensary’s location,” which is next to Capri Motel. He said that Dartmouth Police have been called out to that area multiple times this year.

The company confirmed that they will keep a fence around the facility. When Apotho’s host community agreement was approved in 2022, the company’s president Mathew Medeiros said the facility would be under 24/7 security coverage from a mix of surveillance cameras and patrols.

Medeiros also said a minimum of 55 people would work at the facility — with 10% of the workforce coming from Dartmouth.

Megan’s Organics, which is awaiting the approval of the Cannabis Control Commission on its host community agreement, will likely be the last to open.

Megan’s store would be on Faunce Corner Road, near UMass Law School, still within the town’s marijuana overlay district.

After new state legislation last fall, all host community agreements need to be reviewed by the Cannabis Control Commission. Megan’s already received approval from the planning board, and held a public outreach meeting about the new location. 

The brand is also in the process of opening a location in Rochester. 

Previously signed host community agreements are eligible to be reviewed under state law, but it’s not clear whether the Cannabis Control Commission will do so. MacInnes said the town will adhere to requirements placed on them, but they’re not looking to change anything about the agreements until they’re asked. 

The Solar Cannabis dispensary on Faunce Corner Road, held its grand opening ceremony on March 28, and has been in business since. 

“I think [Solar] has been great up there,” MacInnes said. “It’s not heavily utilized. I think they’re just doing steady business.”

Elevation Retail previously had plans for a dispensary on Faunce Corner Road, but pulled out in 2021.