Page 18 - BusinessWest November 24, 2021

Matt Yee and Mark Cutting of Enlite in Northampton
Cannabis
Rolling Along
Five Years After Legalization, Cannabis Is Thriving in Massachusetts
Massachusetts had already legalized medical marijuana when voters were faced with another question
in late 2016: whether to legalize cannabis for recreational use. The vote wasn’t close, sailing through on talk of jobs, tax revenue, and, well, people wanting to light up legally. Reality doesn’t always live up to promise, but in this case, it has. Yes, the industry is still facing growing pains, particularly when it comes
to creating a level playing field for entrepreneurs. But when it comes to this new industry’s impact on jobs, real-estate investment, municipal tax revenue, and more, these are truly high times.
By Joseph Bednar
D
“We saw the experience of other states, and a lot of the Massachusetts law, when they were trying to put together the regulatory framework, was based on looking at laws in other states,” Narkewicz said. “First and foremost, I supported legalization just as a public-policy meaure, but I also saw an opportunity for investment in
the community.”
Elaborating, he said the city is known as a destination with a vibrant retail sector, arts and culture establish-
ments, and plenty of restaurants and bars.
“So my sense, and my hope, was
avid Narkewicz wasn’t just a supporter of cannabis coming to Northampton. He was the first customer.
That was three years ago, when NETA opened on Conz Street and became the state’s very first dispensary for legal, recreational cannabis.
Today, with cannabis businesses proliferating in the city and across Massachusetts, the outgoing mayor believes his initial enthusiasm was justified.
18 NOVEMBER 24, 2021
CANNABIS
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