Deadline announced for prospective recreational marijuana businesses for 2021

New Bedford, Massachusetts– The City of New Bedford has established a deadline of Friday, April 30, 2021 for prospective recreational marijuana businesses to submit Host Community Agreement (HCA) applications to the Planning Department for the first round of review. All applications must include a certificate of compliance with local zoning and a demonstration of site control, among other materials.

In 2018, the City of New Bedford established administrative procedures to implement the state law allowing for the retail sale, processing, and cultivation of recreational marijuana. Under these procedures, prospective recreational marijuana businesses are given an opportunity to submit Host Community Agreement applications.  An advisory committee then periodically reviews applications and recommends selected applicants to the Mayor based on a variety of factors.  Finally, selected applicants are invited to begin negotiations with the City toward a Host Community Agreement.

Under Massachusetts law, all applicants for state license to operate recreational marijuana businesses are required to secure a Host Community Agreement with the city or town in which respective businesses are located.  Once applicants have received state approval, applicants must also obtain a local license (where required) and a Special Permit from the local planning department.  No date has been established for future round of application review in New Bedford; prospective recreational marijuana businesses are encouraged to submit their applications for consideration in the current (second) round of review.

Currently, South Coast Apothecary LLC, to be located at 115 Coggeshall Street, has submitted a Special Permit to the Planning Board, which will be considered at its April 24 meeting.

For more information visit: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/planning/guidance-establishment-marijuana-facilities/.