State Approves License For Second Salem Cannabis Store

SALEM, MA — The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission approved the license of I.N.S.A., which plans to open the second retail cannabis store in Salem. With the state approval, I.N.S.A. could open as early as next week at 462 Highland Avenue in Salem. The state still needs to conduct a final inspection of the I.N.S.A. site before the store can begin selling to customers.

It's unclear how long it will take the state to schedule and conduct the final inspection. I.N.S.A. had originally hoped to open in September, but the Cannabis Control Commission pushed the hearing back to its October meeting.

After a store receives final approval of its license, Cannabis Control Commission investigators again inspect the marijuana establishment to ensure the facility, operations, security protocols, and marijuana and marijuana products comply with the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth. All inventory must be properly tagged and uploaded into the required seed-to-sale tracking system. The Commission will then issue a notice to commence full operations.

I.N.S.A. will compete with Alternative Therapies Group, which operates stores in Salisbury and on Grove Street in Salem. ATG's Salem location was third cannabis store to open in Massachusetts in December, and the first in greater Boston.

I.N.S.A. and ATG were among the applicants that beat out Mederi, which has filed a lawsuit against the city for its denial of its proposed retail operation and has threatened a second lawsuit stemming from its plans for a Salem-based medical marijuana facility.