Marijuana Retailer Edges Closer To Open On Brookline, Boston Line

BROOKLINE, MA — A new marijuana shop is set to open on the border with Boston, after the town officials approved its updated diversity inclusion plan May 14.

After three years Mission Inc, came before the Select Board Tuesday to get its final approval to open a marijuana retail shop on Comm Ave.

The Select Board voted on Mission’s licensing last month after criticizing the company for not having a good enough diversity and inclusion plan. Select Board members said they were concerned about giving one of Brookline’s last marijuana licenses to a business that is neither local nor primarily minority-owned.

However, because only one member voted, the Town Counsel determined that vote invalid.

Mission updated its diversity plan and promised to have people of color make up half its managers and associates. Although the company's Arizona-based parent is led by mostly white men, officials said 10 percent of the company is owned by employees, contributing to the diversity in ownership.

The company also said it has committed to work with a Plymouth-based, minority-owned transportation company and Tito Jackson, a former Boston City Councilor and Brookline High School grad.

The Arizona-based company, 4Front Ventures got its community host agreement approval from the town in 2018, and approval from the Brookline Planning Board in 2019 to start the construction of a "Mission branded" cannabis dispensary at 1024 Commonwealth Ave., where a salon used to be situated. The building itself sits in Brookline, though the sidewalk is shared with Boston.

Mission Brookline —which still needs final licensing and a "commence operations" notice from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission before it can open — will be by appointment only and feature online orders, according to the company.

The company also has a dispensary in Georgetown, a dispensary and cultivation and processing facilities in Worcester and locations in Michigan and Illinois.

Brookline became the first community in greater Boston to allow a cannabis shop to open with New England Treatment Access in Brookline Village in 2016 and then Sanctuary Medicinals in Coolidge Corner in 2020. NETA is also edging toward opening a second location close to the Newton border in Chestnut Hill.

Previously: Brookline Not Likely To Drop Cannabis Mitigation Fee

• Brookline Vote On Marijuana Business Not Valid
• Marijuana Retailer Gets Approval To Open In Brookline, Barely?