Deal Paves Way For Medford's First Pot Shop

MEDFORD, MA — Medford is getting its first recreational marijuana dispensary.

Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn last week signed a Host Community Agreement with Theory Wellness, Inc., which plans to open at 162 Mystic Ave.

The dispensary was the top-ranked applicant based on scoring criteria from the Cannabis Advisory Committee, according to a statement from the city. Nine applicants were considered, interviewed by the committee, and ranked, with the final list submitted to the mayor last fall. The Host Community Agreement covers a five-year period.

Theory Wellness will need to obtain Special Permit approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals before it can open. The business is also subject to approval by the state's Cannabis Control Commission.

Under the agreement, Theory Wellness will prioritize hiring Medford residents and has agreed to make at least 50 percent of its workforce women, at least 35 percent of employees from diverse backgrounds and at least 5 percent military veterans.

Priority will be given to local vendors for resources and materials whenever possible.

Theory Wellness will also develop an approximately 10,000-square-foot community arts center to allow local artists to create and display art and to host events. The center will be built and maintained at no cost to taxpayers or to local artists.

"We're thrilled by the prospect of bringing our world-class operations to the city of Medford," Theory Wellness CEO Brandon Pollock said in a statement. "Since the beginning of this process, it has been clear that our objectives and mission aligned with the core values of this community. We are particularly proud to be able to facilitate the creation of the community arts center, which will turn an otherwise vacant area of our building into a vibrant, creative space. We appreciate all of the hard work that the City has put into this process, and are excited and eager to take the next steps in moving forward."

Other community benefits under the Host Community Agreement include:

• Providing $250,000 of interest-free financing and technical guidance to a Medford resident of color to open a business in Medford
• Providing at least $100,000 of financial support and technical guidance to sponsor environmentally sustainable businesses and business practices in Medford
• Making annual contributions of $50,000 to Medford-based non-profits or city-run organizations
• Providing $50,000 to the City of Medford to support funding of a Health Impacts Assessment within the first year
• Making contributions of $35,000 to public and private schools in Medford for art supplies
• Purchasing and donating one police cruiser annually
• Adding an EV charging station and a Blue Bike station on site

"After careful review and consideration, and thanks in large part to the huge amount of work done by the Cannabis Advisory Committee, I am proud to formalize our first Host Community Agreement with Theory Wellness," Lungo-Koehn said in a release. "In addition to their strong and well-thought-out proposal, Theory Wellness has made commitments for community benefits in many key areas, from social justice to community arts to environmental sustainability and more, and I am thankful for these opportunities for the city of Medford."

Voters approved recreational marijuana dispensaries in a citywide election in November 2016.

The city council began working on a marijuana ordinance in 2016 and approved zoning amendments to support the development of dispensaries in September 2020, with a vote to adopt a Cannabis Advisory Committee in November of that year. The committee began its process in February 2021, with final recommendations submitted in the fall.

Under city ordinance, the mayor may negotiate up to three Host Community Agreements for marijuana dispensaries.