Good Chemistry hopes its passion for cannabis will help drive Worcester business

Photo | Zachary Comeau Good Chemistry CEO Matthew Huron stands in front of a point-of-sale counter at the company's Worcester dispensary which opened for medical sales earlier this month.

Photo/Grant Welker Good Chemistry is expected to sell the first legal recreational marijuana in Worcester on May 1.

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By Zachary Comeau

Colorado-based Good Chemistry was the first medical dispensary to open in Worcester last August after working on the store for seven years, and on Wednesday, the company will become the first to offer recreational marijuana sales in the city.

The company will open for adult-use sales at 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., but customers need to book an appointment on the company’s website.

For at least the first week, recreational marijuana products can be purchased only with one of those scheduled appointments as the company and city work closely to limit congestion and control crowds near the Harrison Street store.

Parking for medical customers will continue to be in a small lot across the street, but recreational customers will have to park in a lot at 91 Washington St. or any other city-owned lots in the area.

Founder and CEO Matthew Huron’s company is unlike many other companies that are backed by wealthy investors with high profile directors like national operators Acreage Holdings, which is publicly traded and valued at more than $2.6 billion with several high-profile politicians on its board of directors.

Acreage, based in New York, operates a Worcester medical dispensary and is also seeking approvals for dispensaries in Shrewsbury and Leominster via brand The Botanist.

The business started as a co-op in San Francisco to help Huron’s father and his father’s partner cope with HIV.

After they both died in 2008 and 2009, Huron moved the company to Colorado, where Good Chemistry operates three recreational and medical dispensaries.

However, Worcester is, in some ways, home to Huron.

His grandparents, aunt and uncle live in the area and his father went to College of the Holy Cross.

As Huron prepares to open the city’s first adult-use dispensary, he’s reflected on his journey and the opportunity to give back to a community that has been a second home.

“The last couple days have been emotional for me,” Huron said during an interview with WBJ. “Just the entire journey and looking back from how we started Good Chemistry -- we’re very proud.”

Huron said the company differentiates itself from competitors largely because it is free of investors and run by cannabis enthusiasts and experienced cultivators like Huron himself.

“We believe that’s what keeps us competitive,” he said.

Huron said the company is paying attention to the market, but Good Chemistry hopes to carry its competitive medical pricing over to the adult-use market.

An eighth of marijuana at Good Chemistry typically goes for $45 before tax, while many other dispensaries ask for at least $50.

“We believe we’re one of the lowest priced medical dispensaries in the state, if not the lowest,” Huron said.

For Huron, the industry isn’t a short-term play, but rather a lifelong passion.

“I was once asked what my exit strategy was. I asked, ‘I need an exit strategy?’ I hope to be in this business for another 20 years.”