The first retail marijuana shop in Boston — Pure Oasis in Dorchester — received its final license Thursday from the Massachsetts' Cannabis Control Commission, meaning the shop could open its doors within the next three to four weeks.
Pure Oasis co-owner Kobie Evans said the shop will also be the first economic empowerment licensee in the state, “and we will be probably, if I'm not mistaken, the first minority-owned dispensary on the East Coast."
Economic empowerment applications are intended to fulfill the CCC's responsibility to help empower communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.
Evans, a former real estate broker, said he hopes part of that empowerment is being an example of an entrepreneur in Boston who is also a person of color.
“Being that example for other people, to let them know that there are opportunities,” Evans said. “That has been tremendous for a lot of people, because we readily don't have as many examples of people of color who are successful in Boston.”
Evans said one focus has been spending money on vendors and contractors based in Boston, and that he and his partner, Kevin Hart, are aiming to hire locally in Dorchester.
“We're looking at hiring people from the neighborhood,” Evans said. “Our goal is to hire people that can ultimately walk to the shop, who live in close proximity, people who may have had some minor brushes with the law around cannabis. You know, we definitely want to give people second chances and opportunities to get into the industry.”
A legal pot shop in Dorchester could also help weed out the illegal underground market for marijuana, Evans said.
“The best way to eliminate the black market is to have a legalized establishment where people can purchase without waiting on a corner at 10 o'clock at night for someone to deliver their illegal drugs. And also, studies have shown that minors have a harder time getting access to illegal drugs when there is a diminished black market.”
Evans said after a small final inspection, Pure Oasis could start selling adult use cannabis within a month.