16 Essex County Applications for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Ryan Grannan-Doll

16 applications were submitted for medical marijuana dispensaries in Essex County, but, at the moment, there is no word on the communities that would host them. Neighboring Middlesex County had 47 applications.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released the list of applications on Friday, which also include applications for the state’s other counties. In total, 181 applications were submitted. 

Barnstable and Bristol counties each received nine applications, Berkshire County received three, Dukes County got four, Franklin County got seven, Hampden County got 13 and Hampshire County got five. Nantucket County received two applications, Norfolk County got 12, Plymouth County got 19, Suffolk County got 21 and Worcester County received 14. 

See the full list. 

In September, the DPH will specify which applicants will move to the final phase of the application process, according to WBUR. The DPH has said it could approve up to 35 dispensaries statewide by January. State law prohibits more than five per county. 

The developments come amidst some communities placing moratoriums on medical marijuana shops or altering zoning regulations to control where they are located.