Half of Massachusetts cities and towns have enacted or are considering a ban on recreational marijuana businesses, towns like Uxbridge and Athol have gone in the other direction.
Worcester could have up to 15 cannabis shops. Western cities of similar size show there could be demand for far more, but the economic impact may not be so noticeable.
The moment the ballot initiative passed in November 2016 allowing for recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, economic development officials across the state should have been sharpening their pencils.
After its first week of adult-use cannabis sales in Worcester, Good Chemistry is no longer requiring those customers to make appointments in order to purchase recreational marijuana.