Maynard officials have signed off on a proposed retail cannabis shop, starting a process still requiring state approval and the selection of where the store will open.
The town’s Board of Selectmen approved a host community agreement on Sept. 17 with applicant NewCann Group of Norfolk. NewCann said it is the first such agreement in the state for a marijuana retailer that doesn’t include a set location for a shop, though the town will have to approve whatever location NewCann ends up choosing.
Any pot shop would have to be located in the town’s special zoning for such stores, which includes only business and healthcare industrial zones, as approved by Town Meeting in March 2018.
“We’re obviously excited to be working with Maynard,” NewCann’s founder, David Rabinovitz, said in a statement. “The select board was initially concerned about granting an [host community agreement] without a location, and we’re very grateful they allowed us the opportunity to explain our reasoning and approach.”
Maynard’s agreement with NewCann will last five years from the start of business operations. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission still needs to give preliminary and final approval to NewCann.
