The owner of a medical marijuana store in Biddeford has plans to change it to a recreational marijuana retail store.

In December, the Biddeford City Council voted to approve adult-use, or recreational, marijuana retail stores in the Industrial 1, Industrial 2 and Industrial 3 zones. Prior to this vote, adult-use marijuana businesses were not allowed in the city. The new ordinance limits adult-use marijuana businesses to the zones in the city where medical marijuana businesses are allowed.

Recreational marijuana stores are allowed as a conditional use, and proposals must go before the planning board for review.

One Feb. 7, the city’s planning board granted Elizabeth Baldacci, CEO of Blossom Cannabis, a conditional use permit to operate an adult-use marijuana store at 45 Boulder Way, where Baldacci currently owns a medical marijuana store.

 “It’s really just a change of use from a medical marijuana use to an adult marijuana use,” said City Planner David Galbraith at the Feb. 7 meeting.

Baldacci opened Blossom Cannabis as a medical marijuana store at 45 Boulder Way in July 2021.

“She knows how to run a clean shop. We haven’t had any problems with the code office or anything like that,” said Galbraith.

Galbraith said that marijuana retail establishments, which sell  many pre-packaged items, don’t create the same odor concerns as grow facilities.

Baldacci said since the marijuana store opened in 2021, she has upgraded the odor mitigation system in the building that also houses a restaurant, to make “100 percent sure” there are no odor issues.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.

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