2 marijuana dispensaries seeking state approval for Fall River operations

BOSTON — Two new Fall River marijuana dispensaries, one recreational and the other medical, may be granted provisional approval by state officials today, pending votes by the Cannabis Control Commission.

Agricultural Healing and Nature’s Medicines are both listed under “staff recommendations on provisional license applications” at the CCC’s Thursday meeting, which was to begin at 10:30 a.m.

If approved, Agricultural Healing, which is trying to open a medical marijuana dispensary, would join a list of six other local businesses that have received provisional certificates of registration from the state to conduct medical sales in Fall River. Of those six, three companies – Hope Heal Health, Nature’s Medicines, and Northeast Alternatives – have already been granted final approval for medical sales.

Nature’s Medicines, which began medical sales at its Globe Street dispensary in December, is seeking approval to expand into recreational sales. Thus far, only Northeast Alternatives has been granted final approval to start recreational sales. Hope Heal Health and Greener Leaf, which is renovating a former Rhode Island Avenue laundromat, were granted provisional licenses in April. The Haven Center, which is planning to move into a former pawn shop on Pleasant Street, has submitted an application with the CCC to conduct recreational sales.

Receiving provisional approval would not allow Agricultural Healing or Nature’s Medicines to begin retail sales. However, it does represent the state’s approval of each applicant’s finances and security plans. Before a company is granted its final licenses, applying dispensaries typically have to undergo a series of additional site inspections by state officials.

Both companies have already secured local approval to open, having each received letters of non-opposition and host community agreements from city officials.

Nature’s Medicines, which formerly went by the name Xiphias Wellness, was among Fall River’s earliest applicants in the city’s cannabis industry. When it opened its Globe Street dispensary for medical marijuana sales in December, it became Fall River’s second dispensary of any kind to open.

Agricultural Healing, according to the host community agreement it signed with Mayor Jasiel Correia, is planning to open a facility on Lewiston Street where marijuana would be grown, cultivated and processed. The agenda for Thursday’s CCC meeting describes Agricultural Healing’s business as a “vertically integrated medical marijuana treatment center/registered marijuana dispensary."