Marijuana revenue might be disappointing at the state level, but local communities are singing a different tune.

On July 1, Uxbridge received a handwritten check from Caroline Frankel, owner of Caroline’s Cannabis LLC, for a little more than $92,000. That sum was the retail marijuana business’s first installment of negotiated community impact payments.

In June, $30,211 in local sales tax from Caroline’s Cannabis, taxed at 3% of sales, was transferred to the town from the state Department of Revenue.

Selectman Susan K. Franz said that Uxbridge is on track to receive $100,000 to $150,000 in sales tax this year generated at Caroline’s, double the amount town officials had initially estimated for a retail marijuana store.

Town officials are projecting a total impact of $1.5 million to $2 million a year from eight marijuana businesses, not just retail, that are licensed or in the pipeline.

For a town with a $44 million annual budget, marijuana money counts.

“Some people were surprised by the first reporting. It’s a pretty healthy amount,” said Michael Gallerani, Uxbridge economic development coordinator and community planner.

State marijuana revenue is lagging behind projections, following a slower-than-expected rollout of retail stores last year.

The state budget for the year that ended June 30 forecast $63 million in marijuana tax revenue. Based on total sales of $176 million so far and 17% state sales and excise taxes for marijuana, revenue is only around $30 million, or half the budgeted amount.

Also dragging down tax revenue, according to a study by BDS Analytics, black market sales in 2019 are an estimated 76% of the market in Massachusetts.

Legislation filed by state Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury, and Rep. Hannah E. Kane, R-Shrewsbury, would enhance enforcement against illicit marijuana operators.

Locally, cities and towns that have embraced marijuana business are welcoming the new revenue that’s starting to come in.

Worcester County is still cannabis country, with 45 adult-use, or recreational, marijuana businesses licensed as of June 27, according to the state Cannabis Control Commission. That’s more than twice the next largest concentration of 21 licenses in Plymouth County.

Twelve retail licenses have been issued in Worcester County, again the most in the state.

Marijuana businesses must receive a notice to commence operations from the Cannabis Control Commission after they receive a provisional and then final license before they can open. Municipalities may also require local licenses and special permits.

Currently, four retail pot shops are open in Central Massachusetts: Caroline’s Cannabis in Uxbridge, Cultivate Holdings LLC in Leicester, Sanctuary Medicinals LLC in Gardner and Good Chemistry of Massachusetts Inc. in Worcester.

Communities are still budgeting conservatively for their marijuana revenue, watching the market as more businesses open.

“It’s a startup, and it’s hard to know what to expect,” said Uxbridge interim Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.

Ms. Franz called for selectmen to develop a comprehensive plan for marijuana money, beyond covering public safety costs related to hosting several businesses.

She suggested at a recent Board of Selectmen’s meeting that a third of the revenue go toward highway operations. Time-limited negotiated host agreement payments, which could cease after five years, could go toward the $50 million backlog in capital expenses.

It will be up to fall town meeting to act on spending priorities.

Leicester, which was one of the first two communities in the state to open a retail pot shop last November, has received half a million dollars so far from Cultivate Holdings. This includes $125,000 for medical and adult-use host community impact payments and more than $370,000 in local sales tax.

Other than a hectic first five days after Cultivate's retail opening, when traffic from across the state strangled local roads, it’s been smooth sailing and a welcome revenue stream, according to town officials.

Host community agreement revenue has been targeted to parks and recreation and economic development.

The goal for sales tax income is to fund capital, including an automated external defibrillator for emergency rescue crews, vehicles and building upgrades.

“The list is a mile long, but $300,000 doesn’t go very far," said Sandra M. Wilson, chairwoman of the Select Board. “It might be an ambulance.”

She said, “It’s making a small difference. It’s not going to be the panacea they all think.”

Referring to social media chatter, Kristen L. Forsberg, assistant to the town administrator, said, “Online, they’ve spent it five times over.”

Leicester officials encouraged marijuana businesses from the beginning to jump-start economic development. Voters did not call for a moratorium on pot shops, unlike many other communities.

Town Hall streamlined business applications and turned around the host community agreement process, so applicants start with the Planning Board and community meetings before coming to the Select Board.

“By then, we know everything about them,” Ms. Wilson said.

The process weeds out those that are just testing the waters and helps serious applicants confirm zoning viability and address local concerns up front.

“We’re trying to be as business-friendly as we possibly can,” Ms. Forsberg said. “And that includes marijuana.”

Gardner has received $50,000 in sales tax, plus around $15,000 in host agreement payments from Sanctuary Medicinals, which opened for retail sales in March.

Mayor Mark P. Hawke called the revenue “not enough,” saying there was no shortage of municipal needs, but it is helping to fund a new elementary school.

Mr. Hawke had campaigned against recreational marijuana, citing concerns about issues in Colorado with children getting into edible cannabis products.

Gardner voters, who supported legalization by 55%-45%, made no move to ban retail pot shops. A zoning ordinance limits the number of stores to two, based on 20% of retail liquor licenses.

So far there have been no problems with the city’s sole marijuana store, Mr. Hawke said.

“Five years ago, I did not foresee marijuana excise tax coming in,” the mayor said. “Much like the solar projects, this has been a little bit of a godsend.”

Worcester’s first retail adult-use pot shop, Good Chemistry, opened in May so local sales tax numbers haven’t come in yet, according to city officials.

The city has signed 14 out of a maximum 15 retail host community agreements, producing $885,000 in revenue this calendar year. A total of $1.16 million in negotiated host agreement payments including medical marijuana facilities has been received.

Even for a city with an annual budget of $685 million, the marijuana income provides more flexibility for spending priorities, City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said.

Some of the payments cover the costs of bringing a new industry into the city, including staff time that “went into rolling out as thoughtfully as possible.”

Beyond that, Mr. Augustus said, “I’m really looking to prioritize youth programming.”

He said he hoped to expand Recreation Worcester, which this summer has brought 2,000 kids to city parks for daylong activities.

“It’s basically like having a summer camp in your park,” he said.

The program extends to after-school and school vacation programs in some neighborhoods, which Mr. Augustus wants to grow.

Without marijuana money, he said, “you’d have to do a little less or find ways to cobble together the revenue.”

Mr. Augustus is also looking forward to the Cannabis Control Commission and its 80 state employees moving to Union Station from Boston before the end of the year. The commission has a 10-year lease, at around $36,000 a month, for the space.

City officials have tried to mitigate any downsides to the burgeoning marijuana industry, which have been minor, according to Mr. Augustus. And there clearly are upsides such as the revenue.

He said, “The dollars that come will be put to good use in the community.”

Contact Susan Spencer at susan.spencer@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter at SusanSpencerTG.