PRIME SEASON
Three members of the Northeast A lternatives team pick and prune their product.
Maverick medicals
While medical marijuana and recreational cannabis dispensaries are generally thought of as a new industry, Northeast Alternatives in Fall River brings many years of experience Steven to the business. Indeed, it was founded with Froias a real purpose, which is why it is regarded as the most dedicated and is also the most awarded cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts. Poignantly, Northeast Alternatives founder and now-CEO Chris Harkins lost his mother to cancer at the age of 19. Devastated by the loss, and weighed down with firsthand knowledge of the harsh side effects and hardships that traditional cancer treatments bring, when
12
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
î Ž
Chris’ father received a similar diagnosis years later, he believed he could find a better solution. That better solution was discovered after researching the health benefits of cannabis. Again and again, Chris kept being drawn back to the stories of people
J a nuary /F ebruary 2021
who were using cannabis to aid their recovery, and he became convinced of its medicinal value. Wanting to share his newfound knowledge with the public, Chris began building a partnership that would become Northeast Alternatives. He reached out to his cousin Richard Rosier, now co-owner and CFO, cultivated silent partners, and then added Kyle Bishop and Zac Cooper from Colorado to the leadership team, along with cultivators and longtime friends, Stevie Dillard and Brad Kirkman. Together, the cultivation team has well over 50 years of experience and has won over 20 awards. Their highly experienced kitchen and lab staff allow them to make the best concentrates and edible products on the market today.
