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The Liv has a custom mural that pays homage to the town of Putnam, its new hometown. More photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.
Town officials and The Liv officials cut the ribbon Aug. 9. Yes, it was raining. Linda Lemmon photos.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EAST PUTNAM — A hometown feel was important to the team that officially opened The Liv, a cannabis retailer, on Rt. 44.
Standing in front of a mural of Putnam, manager Ashley Beal said The Liv team pieced together the places of Putnam, notable or recognizable, as homage to its new store in Putnam. “Since this is the first (cannabis retailer) here, we wanted a hometown feel,” she said.
The official ribbon cutting was Aug. 9 but it’s been open for a bit. Beal said upwards of 700 customers have visited already. “We’re here to improve the quality of life for people here through cannabis,” she said.
Besides the welcoming vibes The Liv is getting from customers, she said “it’s nice to see all walks of life come in. We’re very happy to be here.”
Asked what the name The Liv meant, Beal said, “Live your best life.”
Chillax, doing business as The Liv, is owned by Niralee Modi. Consultant P.J. Patel was on hand for the ribbon cutting and gave visitors a tour of the very strictly regulated business.
The rules require showing an ID before going through the door and then showing it at the register and then showing it again upon leaving.
There are some 60 cameras spread throughout the business. When the outer back door is opened, the inner back door locks automatically. Inside the vault, which holds all the product, the temperature and humidity are controlled and security is tight. Patel said the concrete vault cost $100,000.
Thomas Borner, on hand as president of the Putnam Business Association, asked if the product was cheaper than on the street. Patel acknowledged there is a black market out there. He said it isn’t cheaper BUT it is safer. All of their product is checked by a lab. “You have no idea what’s in the product of a street dealer.” He said the average sale is $50.
Asked if they intended to also grow the product, Patel said they had a permit for it but decided not to as costs skyrocketed during/after COVID.
The sales people behind the counter are called “bud tenders.”
Borner said “who would have thought 20 years ago there’d be a cannabis store open? This is a good business for Putnam.”
In his remarks, Mayor Barney Seney said it was a great day for Putnam. He said as a state trooper (now retired) he’d seen what drugs can do to people. “But now it’s controlled and it’s more accessible to people.” He, too, noted that it benefits all age groups, for example it can help older people sleep. “Because it’s controlled, it benefits everybody,” he said.
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