The long battle to seek approval for first of its kind retail pot shop in Boston has finally reaped results. The retail pot shop will emerge as the first pot shop in Boston owned by a minority group that has finally got the nod of authorities on Thursday.
Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday had given its consent to offer final license approval to Pure Oasis. The pot shop is owned by two local black businessmen.
Cannabis Control Commission’s Chairman Steven Hoffman termed it as a major landmark verdict and extended his wishes to Pure Oasis.
Co-partner of Pure Oasis, Kobie Evans, said the shop is likely to be open for people in about 30 days in the Boston’s vast Dorchester neighborhood.
Kobie said after the vote,
We’re excited to be where we are right now, but we’d also like to see more opportunities for people like us so that it’s not such a challenging road for people that come after us.
It is interesting to note that the approval has finally been received after a wait of three long years after voters permitted the country’s first marijuana law in a bid to cheer the blacks, Latinos, and other individuals affected by drug war to take part in the emerging industry.
Meanwhile, the two groups Black and Latino had vented their frustration for a long period over the sluggish pace of approvals for the minority-owned businesses in Massachusetts and all across the country.
After Thursday’s approval, Pure Oasis will join 118 marijuana firms that have secured a final state license.
It is worth noting that over 300 others have also claimed conditional approvals, and only 11 of them are firms like Pure Oasis that have got certified as per the state’s equity programs for minority and underprivileged marijuana business, added the commission.
A large number of marijuana activists in Massachusetts and other parts of the country have expressed their concern over the lesser number of minorities being allowed to work in the industry. Approximately 75 percent of Massachusetts’ marijuana workforce is white, according to a statistic.