Cannabis users in the Greater Gardner area will soon have a third dispensary to choose from for the 4/20 celebration.
Joint Operations, a Massachusetts-based and veteran co-owned dispensary, is opening its third location at 320 West Broadway in Gardner. The dispensary company has two other locations in Mendon and Rowley.
Daniel Lencioni, district manager of Joint Operations, said the dispensary’s soft opening day will be in late March or early April in time for 4/20, but they also plan to do a grand opening in May.
He said the recreational cannabis dispensary has passed the first Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission audit and is waiting for a provisional license to allow sales of cannabis products.
On April 20, or as the day is widely known, 4/20, cannabis enthusiasts, advocates, and all levels of users celebrate their love of the plant all over the U.S. and many parts of the globe.
There are a few theories of why weed smokers celebrate April 20, but according to the High Times, the origins of the 4/20 celebration started with the Legend of the Waldos.
The Legend of the Waldos dates back to 1971 at San Rafael High School in California. A group of five high school students, who called themselves the Waldos, would meet up after school at 4:20 p.m. every day to smoke “doobies” under the school statue of Louis Pasteur. The legend also said this group of friends would search for a mysterious field of cannabis in the hills just outside of town.
Room for competition in Gardner
Todd Sullivan, Joint Operations president, said they picked Gardner because they believe every community should have some competition so customers can have the best prices and variety of products.
The Greater Gardner area is home to two other dispensaries: Bud Barn in Winchendon and Sanctuary Medicinals in Gardner. There are several dispensaries in the Fitchburg-Leominster area as well.
“Gardner is being revitalized, and more young families are moving to the town, so this is a great opportunity,” he said. “The town has been fantastic working with us.”
Sullivan said Gardner’s 320 West Broadway retail space is in a great area, and they are always happy to put a dispensary next to a Starbucks with a large parking lot.
What makes Joint Operations stand out?
This is Lencioni’s fourth cannabis dispensary opening but third with Joint Operations. Before working as district manager for Joint Operations, Lencioni said he helped open and manage Cape Cod Cannabis in Wellfleet.
Besides preparing stores for opening day, Lencioni also manages them after they open as the district manager. He said he is managing the other two Joint Operations locations in Massachusetts while preparing the Gardner store, and he will continue to visit as part of his responsibilities as district manager.
The dispensary is currently looking to fill 15 positions from general manager to entry-level budtender. Lencioni said they are always looking to hire locals and local veterans because they want to become a part of the community.
“We want to support veterans if it’s through cannabis education or empowerment,” he said. “We are a veteran co-owned cannabis company, so we are always looking to hire local veterans.”
Budtenders at Joint Operations are highly trained after being hired; Lencioni said budtenders have a starting salary between $19 to $20 because of the training they have to do.
To inquire about a job at Joint Operations, email Lencioni at info@jointoperations.com
Lencioni said Joint Operations aims to give customers a unique experience by creating a comfortable environment and being a one-stop cannabis shop. He plans to have a menu with 12 strains of flower and an interactive display where customers can smell and see the flower buds before purchasing them.
Every third Saturday of the month, Lencioni said the dispensary hosts a customer appreciation day, offering a deal like eight pre-rolls for a dollar. An eighth of cannabis flower is 1/8 of an ounce or 3.5 grams, and it’s the most common weight purchased by consumers.
“This past Saturday at each of our locations, over 500 customers were able to purchase an eighth for a dollar,” he said. “Don’t think it’s old or bad product; we are doing these crazy deals with regular products and good brands.”
Lencioni said the Gardner location will be open by the April customer appreciation day.
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