Nature’s Medicines Dispensary in Fall River MA

A Spindle City landmark with a new job

Ask a longtime Fall River local about 482 Globe Street and you might hear two words: The Uke. The building was home to the old Ukrainian club, a neighborhood spot in the South End. Today it is Nature’s Medicines Dispensary in Fall River MA, a dispensary that serves both adult-use shoppers and registered medical patients under one roof.

The building kept its character through the change. When the store expanded to adult use, the company said it had renovated the old club to keep its historic charm. So you are not walking into a plain box store. You are walking into a piece of Fall River history with a new purpose. Here is what to know before you stop by.

Open since 2021

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission lists 482 Globe Street as an active, licensed adult-use cannabis retailer, open since January 14, 2021.

The adult-use launch came after a few months of work. In a February 2021 announcement, Nature’s Medicines said the store had been closed for several months of renovations to expand its services, and that it would welcome adult-use customers starting Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

It started with medical patients

Long before recreational sales, this was a medical dispensary. The Fall River Reporter covered the opening in December 2018, calling it the city’s second medical marijuana dispensary. Back then, only registered patients in the state’s medical program with an active patient ID card could shop.

That medical side never went away. Leafly still lists a separate medical listing for the Globe Street store, alongside the adult-use one. When the adult-use doors opened in 2021, the company described Fall River as one of the first stores in Massachusetts to offer both adult-use and medical cannabis under one roof. If you have a medical card, ask staff how the medical menu works on your visit.

“Thank you, Fall River”

General manager Stephen Borges put the 2021 expansion in neighborly terms. “We thank Fall River and our surrounding communities for welcoming us,” he said in the announcement. He also said the team planned to keep serving medical patients while adding recreational customers, and that staff would guide adult-use guests on products and on enjoying cannabis legally.

Right at Globe Four Corners

The store’s location is part of the fun. The company’s 2021 announcement placed it in the Globe Four Corners area, which it called a lively district with independent shops and restaurants. It is a real neighborhood stop, not a highway exit.

The corner has deep roots. According to Wikipedia, Col. Joseph Durfee built the Globe Manufactory, a spinning mill, in 1811 on Dwelly Street near Globe Four Corners. At the time, that land was still part of Tiverton, Rhode Island. Today the Globe Village area is centered on Cook Pond and Broadway, a short trip from the store.

Who’s behind the counter

Nature’s Medicines was founded in 2014, according to the company’s 2022 Wareham announcement. It runs three Massachusetts stores, in Fall River, Uxbridge and Wareham, and its Fall River store opened to Massachusetts medical patients in 2018. Its about page describes staff trained to ask questions and listen before they recommend anything.

What’s on the menu

Leafly lists the store’s selection under the main categories: flower, vape products, concentrates, oils, topicals and edibles. The company says its products are third-party tested. Menus change often, so check the online menu before you head over to see what is in stock that day.

Tips from the Nature’s Medicines education pages

The company keeps a set of education articles on its website. A few ideas are worth bringing with you.

Know which door you are walking through. The company’s article on medical and recreational rules in Massachusetts lays out the basic split. Adult-use buyers must be 21 or older and do not need a card. Medical patients need a state-issued medical marijuana card from the state program. Because the Fall River store serves both, it is a good place to ask questions about either path.

Shop smart. The company’s guide to choosing a dispensary in Massachusetts suggests asking about the variety of products, the price once taxes are added, how friendly and informed the staff are, and what they recommend if you are new. Once you find a store you like, it also suggests sharing your experience in online reviews to help others decide.

Keep notes. The company’s article on THC suggests you “consider keeping a journal of the products you’ve tried and how they made you feel.” A few lines after each visit make your next conversation with staff a lot more useful.

Neighbors from two states

The 2021 announcement said the Fall River store would serve Seekonk, Swansea, Somerset and Rehoboth in Massachusetts, plus Bristol, Tiverton, Warren, Barrington and Portsmouth in Rhode Island. Fall River sits right on the state line, so that makes sense. Just remember the rule that matters most for Rhode Island visitors: cannabis bought here has to stay in Massachusetts.

Plan your visit

Address. 482 Globe Street, Fall River, MA 02724.

Hours. Monday through Saturday, 8am to 10pm. Sunday, 10am to 8pm, as listed on Leafly. Call ahead around holidays.

Phone. (508) 469-8571.

Payment. Leafly lists cash and an ATM on site. The 2021 announcement said debit cards were preferred, so call ahead to check which payment types are taken today.

Discounts. Leafly lists a veteran discount. Ask at the counter.

Order ahead. Leafly lists same-day pickup, so you can place your order online and collect it in the store.

Access. Leafly lists the storefront as ADA accessible.

ID. Adult-use shoppers need a valid government-issued photo ID showing they are 21 or older. Medical patients should bring their state patient ID card as well.

Massachusetts cannabis basics

Here are the state rules from the Cannabis Control Commission:

Age. 21 or older, with a government-issued ID for every retail purchase.
Carrying. Up to two ounces in public.
At home. Up to 10 ounces, and anything over two ounces must be locked up.
Where to use it. Not in public places and not on federal land.
In the car. No open containers in the passenger area. Use a closed container in the trunk or a locked glove compartment, and never drive under the influence.
State lines. It is illegal to take cannabis out of Massachusetts, and it cannot be mailed. Fall River borders Rhode Island, so if you are headed home across the line, your purchase cannot go with you.

Your first visit, step by step

Pick your path. Adult-use shoppers need to be 21 or older. Medical patients need an active state card.
Look at the menu online. See what is in stock and decide on a few options.
Bring the right ID. Photo ID for everyone, plus your patient card if you are shopping medical.
Ask questions. Staff are trained to listen first, so tell them what you are looking for.
Write it down. Keep a short journal of what you tried for next time.

Make a day of it in Fall River

Fall River is a Bristol County city of 94,000 people (2020 census), the tenth-largest city in Massachusetts. It sits on the eastern shore of Mount Hope Bay at the mouth of the Taunton River. It was incorporated as a town in 1803 and as a city in 1854.

They call it the Spindle City for good reason. By 1868, Fall River had passed Lowell as the leading textile city in America, and by 1876 it held one-sixth of New England’s cotton capacity. The Quequechan River, a short river with eight falls that drops into the Taunton River, has a name believed to be a Wampanoag word meaning “falling river.”

The city was once a travel hub as well. Steamboats of the Fall River Line ran to New York City from 1847 until 1937, and for many years it was the preferred way to travel between Boston and Manhattan. The worst fire in the city’s history started on February 2, 1928, at the vacant Pocasset Mill, and it destroyed a large part of downtown.

Battleship Cove is the big draw. It is home to the world’s largest collection of World War II naval vessels, including the battleship USS Massachusetts, and it also has a restored 1920 carousel. Right next door, Fall River Heritage State Park anchors the waterfront and hosts the city’s Fourth of July fireworks. Look up from the water and you will see the Braga Bridge, a six-lane bridge that opened in 1966.

Fall River has one of the strongest Portuguese American communities in the country, and the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost fills Kennedy Park each August. Kennedy Park is one of three city parks, along with North Park and Ruggles Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Curious about the city’s most famous mystery? The Lizzie Borden House is now a bed and breakfast. For art, the Fall River Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 2020. Getting around is easy too: SRTA runs fixed-route buses from the Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center, and Fall River has a station on the MBTA Commuter Rail’s Fall River/New Bedford Line.

Why Nature’s Medicines Fall River is worth the stop

An old neighborhood club with a new purpose. A store that has served Massachusetts patients since 2018 and opened to adult-use shoppers in 2021. Adult-use and medical menus under one roof, right by Globe Four Corners. Nature’s Medicines Fall River is a true Spindle City original. Come see what they did with The Uke.

Cannabis is for adults 21 and over. Please consume responsibly.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nature's Medicines in Fall River?

Nature’s Medicines Fall River is at 482 Globe Street, Fall River, MA 02724, in the former Ukrainian club known as The Uke near Globe Four Corners. Call (508) 469-8571 with questions. Use the Get directions button on this page to open the route in Google Maps.