Dartmouth’s cannabis future is becoming a bit more concrete. Retailer and cultivator Apotho Therapeutics started construction on its new retail facility on State Road in the former New East Asian Fusion location. 

In July, Apotho Therapeutics estimated the opening date at early 2024. Apotho Therapeutics’ Matthew and Andrew Medeiros told the Select Board at the time that it planned to start work on the cultivation facility, at the former Indoor Tennis Courts, after the retail facility was complete. They estimated the cultivation facility would be complete six months later. 

Select Board member Shawn McDonald said at the time that 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.

Apotho Therapeutics could not immediately be reached for comment.