Slow Going For Efforts To Diversify The Massachusetts Marijuana Industry

One big complaint about Massachusetts’ legal marijuana industry: Who is getting all those profits? Efforts to change have been slow moving.

Opening today, in Boston, is the first marijuana business in the state to apply through what’s called the social equity program. It was designed to give a leg up to people and communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. But it took a while. It comes 15 months after the first retail pot shops opened in the state.

Carrie Healy, NEPR: Matt, why did it take so long?

Matt Murphy, State House News Service: There are a lot of things at play. And this, in particular, the opening of the Pure Oasis shop in Dorchester, is a uniquely Boston issue. The city had taken a good amount of time as it was developing its local zoning requirements and regulations.

So before applications and licenses and communities like Dorchester or Roxbury and Mattapan could even be considered by state regulators, the city had to put the framework in place, so that did take some time.

[Read more at New England Public Radio]