Good Chemistry temporarily forced to stop selling its own marijuana
Photo | Zachary Comeau
Good Chemistry on Harrison Street has been open since Aug. 2 for medical sales but was forced to temporarily close and prohibited from selling its own product.
Worcester’s first marijuana dispensary has hit its first bump in the road since opening last month.
Good Chemistry, which opened Aug. 2, has been ordered to stop selling marijuana grown at its Bellingham facility as the state Department of Public Health reviews chemicals used to treat plants for pests.
The 9 Harrison St. medical marijuana dispensary was ordered to close on Aug. 30, but the store was allowed to reopen Thursday after the DPH amended its order to allow the company to sell third-party products, according to James McManus, a partner in public relations firm Slowey/McManus that represents Good Chemistry.
A DPH spokesperson did not immediately return a request for more information.
According to McManus, DPH is unfamiliar with organic compounds used by Good Chemistry to control pests and mold.
In a written statement, the company said the compounds it uses have been used before in Colorado, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, but are new to Massachusetts.
"We understand and support the state’s caution with respect to any new products and cannabis cultivation techniques," the company said. "We are hopeful their review will help improve the overall quality and safety of the Massachusetts cannabis industry as a whole."
The company provided a copy of the DPH’s letter allowing the dispensary to sell third-party products. The letter says all marijuana cultivated at the Bellingham facility shall remain quarantined and preserved until the review is completed.
The DPH’s initial letter was not immediately provided.
The Bellingham facility is still operational during the state’s review, McManus said.
On Facebook, the company made no mention of this issue, but on Thursday thanked customers for support and offered a 20-percent discount on a patient’s first visit.
Good Chemistry became the city’s first marijuana dispensary to open last month. The Colorado-based company has secured a host community agreement and a special permit from Worcester to operate the dispensary as a recreational retail store.
The company has submitted its application to the state Cannabis Control Commission for review, but Good Chemistry told WBJ last month that it won’t open for adult-use sales until at least the end of the year.
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