Leicester

Marijuana regulators on Thursday approved two testing laboratories to inspect recreational marijuana sold in Massachusetts and approved a host of licenses for other Central Mass. cannabis businesses.

New England Treatment Access, a Franklin marijuana grower and seller, is expanding its already-sprawling growing and manufacturing space and working to add a retail store.

Two marijuana testing labs - including one in Framingham - are set to get their final licenses from the Cannabis Control Commission in what is another huge milestone for the industry.

Leicester marijuana grower, product manufacturer and retailer Cultivate won one of the first final retail licenses from the Cannabis Control Commission last week, setting the stage for the state's impending rollout of the recreational cannabis industry.

Legal marijuana sales are "weeks away" in Massachusetts, the chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission said Thursday after regulators approved final business licenses for shops in Leicester and Northampton.

A Leicester marijuana dispensary could be the first Massachusetts retailer to be granted a final license Thursday from state cannabis regulators.

Marijuana regulators have completed at least one final inspection of a retail marijuana shop and more are scheduled.

It appears that the Cannabis Control Commission's final go-ahead for a retail marijuana store to open will not come this week, pushing the opening of the first retail shop into at least October.

A Las Vegas-based cannabis firm will partner with two Massachusetts-based companies, including one in Leicester, and looks to enter the state's rapidly expanding market.

Bob Kennedy, the executive director for Mechanics Hall for the past 12 years, is retiring next month. He will be replaced by Kathleen Gagne, the facility's vice director and chief development officer.