Salem Pot Shop Temporarily Unable To Sell Recreational Marijuana

SALEM (CBS) – A Salem pot shop is currently unable to sell recreational marijuana due to an inventory issue.

Alternative Therapies Group said in a statement that inventory data has become corrupt in the state's seed-to-sale-tracking system known as METRC.

"The METRC support team and the Cannabis Control Commission have been working hard to correct the problem, but it is a time-consuming and complex process," Alternative Therapy Groups said in a statement.

Medical marijuana sales are still taking place without issue. A time frame to resume recreational marijuana transactions is not yet known.

"We deeply regret that we will not be able to honor recreational customers, even those with scheduled appointments, until further notice," Alternative Therapies Group said.

In a statement, the Cannabis Commission said the issue is due to "improper inventory management practices" by Alternative Therapies Group.

The Commonwealth's mandatory seed-to-sale tracking technology, Metrc, remains fully functional. Alternative Therapies Group's adult-use supply issues are the result of improper inventory management practices and the challenges are limited to their operations. The Cannabis Control Commission remains confident in the tracking system's ability to detect discrepancies in the data, which licensees upload, that signal when potential public health and safety risks may exist. To prevent diversion, the sale of contaminated products, and other issues, Commission investigators will continue to regularly inspect marijuana establishments to ensure they tag, upload, and trace all inventory correctly.

Alternative Therapies Group opened in December. It became the first recreational marijuana shop in Eastern Massachusetts.