CHICOPEE – Legal recreational cannabis came to Hampden County on July 5 without the mile-long lines or traffic issues that accompanied the introduction in Northampton.

With less than an hour to go before Mass Alternative Care opened its recreational cannabis shop on East Main Street, the parking lot was empty. Security officers and Chicopee police were prepared to handle a large crowd.

As the opening time of 11 a.m. rolled around, the parking lot was increasingly full and there were about 20 people patiently standing in line.

The dispensary is located in a former industrial building nearly at the Chicopee border with the Springfield neighborhood of Indian Orchard.

Kevin Collins of Mass Alternative Care explained to the Chicopee Herald the company has been open since August with its medical dispensary and every month business has increased.

He believes the sales on the medical side will grow and said with the growth of the recreational side, the medical sales should grow with increased awareness.

Although some might think people who use cannabis for health reasons may just opt to buy from the recreational side without going through the process of getting an identification card and prescription, Collins believes the tax difference between the two kinds of sales – medical is taxed less than recreational – will ensure the medical sales continue.

“The savings make it worthwhile,” he added.

There is a double-door security system at Mass Alternative Care. Once inside there is a separate line and counter dedicated to medical customers. There is a “menus” of products listed both on paper and on large monitors at the counter.

Cannabis “flower” ready for use is packaged in 3.5-gram packages. There is a limit imposed by the state on the amount that can be purchased – three packages– at any time.

The menu carefully describes each strain noting its potency and effect. Some strains are developed for sedation and relaxing and are used by patients with anxiety, insomnia and pain. Others have the effects of being “uplifting, creative and cerebral” and are good for depression, fatigue and mood disorders.

There are also pre-rolled joints, vape cartridges and two varieties of edibles – grape chews and a chocolate bar.

Like the flower there are limits on how many of these items a person can buy at any one time.

There are also CBD vape cartridges on sale.

All of the sales are cash-only and there is an ATM on the premises.

Speaking to people in line, one could see the draw of the dispensary. One person came from Palmer and noted how close the store was to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Another was from Holyoke, while a third person was from Chicopee.

As customers gathered, one could see the demographic was dominated by people over the age of 40.

Collins noted that every product they sell is tested for potency by an independent lab to assure control of the THC, the active substance in cannabis.

In terms of the unofficial market for cannabis, Collins said with the increase of legal dispensaries will come greater competition that should drive costs down. He believes with lower costs people will use dispensaries instead of other sources.

He noted the city has been “very supportive of our business” and described it as a “public-private partnership.”

Although Collins had hoped Mayor Richard Kos would have been the first customer – Kos said with a smile that he doesn’t even buy alcohol – like Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz had, Kos said he was there to support a new business.

“I’m here to support a local legal business which has been well received for its medical marijuana component,” Kos said.

He noted the business will be paying taxes not just to the state but also to the city and that revenue would be “a great assistance to complement and enhance our public safety efforts.”

The city has four recreational cannabis licenses – the number determined by the number of liquor licenses in the city – Kos noted, and there are other recreational shops planned as well as the cultivation facilities and another medical dispensary.

Kos added, “The biggest delay [in establishing these business] has been the Commonwealth.”