Theory Wellness, the recreational cannabis brand with locations in South Portland and Waterville, recently opened the doors to its third dispensary in Bangor. With this recreational store opening, the company wanted to do something a little different.

Nick Friedman and Brandon Pollock, co-founders of Theory Wellness. Courtesy of Theory Wellness

For their opening weekend, Theory donated 25% of their total sales to The Bangor Farmers’ market. According to Theory Wellness CEO and Colby alumni, Brandon Pollock, the connection between cannabis dispensaries and your local farmers isn’t so far apart as one might expect.

“Cultivation and farming are a vital part of our operations here at Theory. However, more broadly, local agricultural producers are foundational to the communities that we operate in. Farmers’ markets promote wellness through healthy eating, support local businesses, and are a foundational cultural institution that have become a community gathering place.”

Theory operates an indoor cultivation facility in Waterville, producing the products found in their recreational dispensaries. With a focus on small batches and unique genetics, they provide various products for all types of customers, from flower to topicals. However, they’re no strangers to outdoor farming, either.

In Massachusetts, their operations include outdoor cultivation along with indoor cultivation, with outdoor cultivation occurring on a 35 year old organic farm. Outdoor growing of any crop is the most sustainable way to cultivate, and Theory looks forward to establishing an outdoor cannabis farm in Maine in the coming year.

As one of the first licensed recreational outdoor cannabis farms on the East Coast, supporting local farmers is part of Theory’s DNA. They’ve supported local farmers’ markets in MA to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) benefits. Their newest partnership with the Bangor Farmers’ Market is a natural trajectory.

The new location in Bangor is located at 569 Stillwater Ave and is open 7-days a week. The Bangor Farmers’ Market is every Sunday from 11 AM – 1:30 PM at Abbot Square.