The 1st Dispensary in North Adams Officially Opens Saturday

The first North Adams dispensary opened for business on Monday with the official opening on tap for this Saturday according to an article posted in The Berkshire Eagle.  Clear Sky Cannabis owned by Anthony Parrinello found a home at the site of the former Friendly’s on State Road in North Adams.

Parrinello is no stranger to the cannabis business.  He is the former COO of Sira Naturals and CEO of Temescal Wellness.  Plans for Clear Sky have been in the works since 2018 according to the Berkshire Eagle.  The pandemic was a major speedbump in the renovation and opening plans.

This will be the first dispensary to open in North Adams following 62% of city residents voting to legalize recreational weed in 2016.  Clear Sky will employ 17 fulltime employees and a part-timer according to the Eagle article.  Thirteen of those employees are North Adams residents.

A ribbon cutting ceremony and gifts for the first 250 customers will kick off the official opening begging Saturday at 9:45. The retail outlet will be open Monday through Saturdays from 8am to 8pm and 10am to 7pm on Sundays.

Currently Silver Therapeutics in Williamstown is the only other dispensary in North County, with a host of shops in Pittsfield, Lee and Great Barrington.

The town of Adams is looking to take advantage of the growing cannabis industry taking a first step early this week when the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a zoning variance application for a cultivation and retail operation on Renfrew Street in Adams on a property zoned Industrial.

If you have purchased anything from a dispensary you have felt the extra hit to the wallet compared to the nickel and dime bags from your high school dealer back in the day.  Of course, the quality of product is through the roof compared to “the good ole’ days.” The 20% tax on cannabis products are doled out to the local municipality and the state adding a lot of cash to the city, town and state coffers.  Many Western Mass cities and towns have embraced the growing weed industry.