Provincetown Recreational Marijuana Shop Becomes First To Open On Cape Cod

PROVINCETOWN (CBS/AP) — Cape Cod has its first legal pot shop.

Curaleaf opened a recreational marijuana store in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Wednesday after town officials granted the Wakefield-based company local approval.

The store is located along the famous resort town's bustling downtown of shops, restaurants and bars. Right now the store has 15 employees and they expect to double that number as they get closer to the summer months.

"We have seven registers open we can have up to 11 here," said Curaleaf MA President Patrik Jonsson.

There are currently more than 30 retail marijuana shops open in Massachusetts, which legalized recreational use of the drug in 2016.

Bobby Nichols was first in line at Curaleaf on Wednesday. "I feel great man, you can buy something legally and you know you're getting some decent quality and quantity-wise," Nichols said.

Provincetown resident Marilyn Massad doesn't use marijuana products, but wanted to check out the shop. "I'm curious I want to see what all this is about, see what they did," said Massad.

Jonsson said they're working with the town and police to keep the operation running smoothly.

"This is a walk-able street we're right downtown, parking you need to find a public spot there is no parking on site," said Jonsson.

The first shops in the state didn't open until 2018, and Cape Cod communities have been reluctant to allow the shops to open there.

One dispensary for medical marijuana patients operates in the region, but most towns specifically ban retail marijuana sales. Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape, is one of just six on the peninsula to allow it.

"I'm hopeful. I hope they bring in revenue for the town," Massad said. "We need activity and foot traffic year round."

Curaleaf's grand opening is set for next Thursday and by May they expect to be open from 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week.

Curaleaf is one of the nation's biggest marijuana companies, with roughly 50 dispensaries in 12 states.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)