Medical marijuana facility opens in old Fitchburg LEGO plant

FITCHBURG, Mass. — The last box of LEGO bricks was left behind at the old factory in Fitchburg.

It was signed by the former employees who used to make the toys.

“Funny thing was that was one of the first things we saw when we came and toured the building,” said Stephen Perkins, the CEO of Atlantic Medicinal Partners.

The brand new Fitchburg facility of Atlantic Medicinal Partners, or AMP, plan to pack the 50,000 square foot space with top of the line, premium Massachusetts marijuana.

“This is somewhere between 650 and 700 plants,” said Perkins, showing the start of the operation.

A canopy of evidence representing the change landscape of industry in the Bay State.

“It’s almost growing slow and fast all at the same time. It’s been around for decades and decades – it seems like its growing fast…it’s changing the culture,” said Kate Shaw.

Across the Commonwealth, there are:

• 141 adult-use cannabis establishments
• 70 adult-use cannabis retailers
• 34 cultivators and two micro-businesses
• More than 850 licenses have been applied for

AMP in Fitchburg is seed to sale, what’s grown in the back can be bought in the front and at other Massachusetts dispensaries.

“Marijuana has pretty much gone mainstream,” said Joe Simarano, who was there to buy some Black Mamba.

Like many businesses, AMP was forced to adapt to COVID-19, going virtual with the inspection process.

“We walked around with an iPad. We were actually the first facility to be able to do that virtually,” said Elizabeth Cieri, of AMP.

But like the LEGO bricks once manufactured in the facility, all the pieces take time to come together.

“There’s a lot of work and a lot of time, you almost didn’t believe there would ever be plants,” said Perkins.

For AMP, that’s been an almost four-year process.

“The industry is thriving – if you can get yourself through the process and licensure and the fundraising – there’s a lot of room to succeed,” said Perkins.

Medicinal marijuana access will be available Friday, Sept. 18.

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Cox Media Group