First Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Dispensary Now Open

SALEM, MA — Patients who have been desperately waiting for a dispensary to open in Massachusetts finally have some good news to celebrate this week.

Alternative Therapies Group in Salem has received a waiver from the state to begin operating, and opened its doors to qualifying patients on Wednesday, although appointments are required.

According to the Department of Health’s website, three other dispensaries have received approval to begin cultivating marijuana. These three dispensaries plan to locate their retail operations in Northampton, Brockton, and Ayer.

Only 15 dispensary applicants were selected by the department in 2014, but the state announced in June that it was overhauling the dispensary selection process and scrapping its widely criticized scoring system for judging…