WESTFIELD – Cannabis Connection will host its first job fair on Nov. 2 and 3 between noon and 4 p.m. at the site of what is expected to be the city’s first recreational marijuana shop.

CEO Thomas Keenan said that they are looking for people to fill the positions of “Budtender,” retail floor lead, retail assistant manager, inventory control specialist, security and retail manager. Those who are interested are asked to fill out a questionnaire on the Cannabis Connection website before attending the job fair.

Keenan said that the building at 40 Industrial Park Rd. is mostly finished except for a few smaller details on the interior. The retail space already looks like other similar retail marijuana stores that have opened up recently in the area. The only difference is that it is devoid of any product to sell.

On Nov. 7, Keenan expects the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) to review his application for a provisional license. Should it be approved, it would allow Keenan to begin hiring people from the job fair. After the license is approved, they would then need to pass further inspections from the CCC and to check with city officials to ensure that local ordinances are being followed.

Those that would like to be hired by Cannabis Connection would need to go through background checks due to the heavily regulated nature of the industry. Keenan said that non-violent past crimes and drug offenses are not going to be disqualifying factors in the hiring process. Any previous convictions related to domestic violence, firearms, violent crimes, or fraud would likely be disqualifying.

Keenan said that they will not be growing and producing their own cannabis products. Instead, they will be purchasing product from certain Massachusetts cultivators such as INSA, Garden Remedies, and Berkshire Roots.

“We will be the connection between the consumers and the brands they love,” said Keenan.

Curt Gezotis, director of Cannabis Connection, said that many of the other local marijuana dispensaries, like NETA in Northampton, are vertically integrated, meaning that they control the entire process from plant growth to sale.

Keenan said that, once the provisional license is approved, initial inspections will focus on details. He said that things like certain glass panes that need to be frosted or security cameras being pointed at the right spot are likely areas that will be tweaked following the initial inspection.

After Keenan fixes the problem areas pointed out by the CCC, they will return for a final inspection which, if they pass, will allow for the granting of a final license. Once the final license is given, Cannabis Connection can begin bringing in product.

Keenan and Gezotis said that they expect a January grand opening if all goes well, although they acknowledged that it could be sooner or later than that depending on the circumstances.

The CCC would allow for them to pick the date they actually open their doors, but they do not allow soft openings for family, friends, and investors. Once the doors are open, they are open to everyone 21 or older by CCC rules.