Mom and pop pot shop to open March 15

Uxbridge location is first of its kind in Blackstone Valley

UXBRIDGE — Caroline’s Cannabis, the first momand-pop cannabis retail shop in the Blackstone Valley, is set to officially open its doors to customers on Friday, March 15.

The cannabis boutique store will open at 11 a.m and close at 7 p.m. Those will be the business hours for the first two weeks to make sure there are no supply problems

“We’ll be operating on that reduced schedule for at least two weeks to ensure we have enough product for our customers,” said owner Caroline Frankel.

Over the last month, Frankel has been meeting with town police to review appropriate traffic and parking plans. Traffic has been a concern across the state since Leicester experienced major backups after one of the first two recreational stores opened in that small town last November.

Caroline’s Cannabis Patriot Care will have at least 50 on-site parking spaces, and there is also a large off-site parking lot across the street. For traffic management, Caroline’s Cannabis is working with the local Police Department, which will have detail officers throughout the area to help manage traffic.

Franken says she is prepared for an influx of customers,

but says most of the customers who show up will likely be from the local area – unlike the long lines in Leicester, where many people from out of state stood in line for more than five hours to purchase cannabis from the state’s first retail shop.

The Cannabis Control Commission has green-lighted nine retail marijuana stores across the state, and eight have opened their doors to customers. The first stores opened Nov. 20 and through Jan. 27, customers have spent about $28 million on marijuana products in Massachusetts, the CCC said.

Caroline’s Cannabis, LLC is one of six marijuana businesses that have signed community host agreements with the Town of Uxbridge. The CCC approved Caroline’s final retail license last month.

The store is employing approximately 10 people, it will be the first mom-andpop cannabis retail shop in the Blackstone Valley.

Caroline’s Cannabis describes itself as a woman-owned “country-inspired cannabis boutique store” that offers fine cannabis and cannabis products, including unique handcrafted cannabis inspired home, business and garden décor made with reclaimed wood, barn wood, scrap wood, free wood and salvaged cannabis stalks.

“Caroline’s Cannabis is a passion-driven business dedicated to spreading the ‘kind’ words of cannabis in an artistic, beautiful and creative way,” Frankel said.

Frankel’s host community agreement with the town calls for a community impact fee that equals 3 percent of sales revenue, on top of a 3 percent local sales tax and additional state taxes.

Frankel says she plans to institute a direct giving program that will target donations and sponsorships to advocacy groups, economic empowerment non-profits, and local charities in Worcester County, including the Worcester women’s homeless shelter Abby’s House. She says she will also establish a hiring preference for employees and contractors that reside in the area.

The town also has retail agreements with Grass Appeal and Gibby’s Garden; Blackstone Valley Naturals LLC, which is looking to operate a cultivation and manufacturing facility at 660 Douglas St.; and Baked Bean LLC, which is looking to set up a marijuana processing and transportation establishment at 504 Quaker Highway.

The town also has a signed host agreement with Deep Roots Craft Cannabis, a family-owned cannabis startup that is looking to establish a marijuana growing and processing operation on West Street.

The company is seeking a micro business license from the state Cannabis Control Commission, which will allow it to cultivate, market and distribute cannabis products wholesale to partnering dispensaries. Cultivation and manufacturing operations will take place in an existing 14,500-square-foot building located at 420 West St., which is zoned industrial. If approved by the state and town, the company’s principals estimate that the business could see revenues of more than $10 million in three years. The host agreement approved by the selectmen would provide an impact fee to the town of 1.75 percent of gross sales for the first five years.