Massachusetts marijuana dispensaries hope to open in phase one

Marijuana dispensaries across Massachusetts are among the industries wondering during which phase they'll be able to reopen.

Solar Therapeutics is among them. The retail store and plans for the future put in limbo.

CEO Edward Dow said months ago Solar Therapeutics was bustling with business.

The company launching both retail and cultivation efforts of recreational marijuana in Somerset in the last year.

"We were booming, steadily increasing sales month-to-month, week-to-week," said Dow.

But the industry fell short of the "essential-business" list in the Commonwealth, forcing them to close up shop seven weeks ago.

"It's been awful as far as from a business planning perspective," explained Dow. "It's been really, really bad when you lose all your sales and are spending that much and growing that fast."

Dow said he had to lay off more than three dozen employees and put expansion plans to the side and take a hard look at spending.

"We are probably the only industry that is not eligible for any COVID-19 relief, so we have real bills due every month and I've prioritized spending money on our real estate, infrastructure improvements that we need to do and our energy costs," said Dow.

Still, Dow knows the need will be there.

He's remaining optimistic the state will help both financially and in getting the doors back open in phase one.

"We've put a lot of money into this economy, we've put a lot of money into Massachusetts, we're hoping they help us continue that path," explained Dow.

He said he is confident he will be able to open during phase one of reopening in Massachusetts.