The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission today signed off on a proposal for a company called Pure Oasis to open Boston's first recreational pot shop, at 430 Blue Hill Ave. in Grove Hall.

The approval of Pure Oasis puts Boston on an equal footing with such bustling communities as Montague, Lee, Uxbridge, Millis, Oxford, Wareham and Great Barrington, all of which already have one approved marijuana retailer each, but behind Fall River, which has two.

Boston has signed "host community" agreements with a total of 13 would-be pot-shop operators, but 12 of those are still awaiting action by the state. Voters approved recreational marijuana use in 2016.

WBUR reports that Pure Oasis is the first retail outlet approved under a state economic empowerment program aimed at entrepreneurs and employees who were members of communities disproportionately hit by previous efforts to block marijuana use or who plant to employ such people.

More on Kobie Evans and Kevin Hart, Pure Oasis's owners.