“There is 19 that we have completed our review of and we’re waiting for cities and towns or our background check agency,” he said when marijuana regulators met last, on July 12.

At the same meeting, Executive Director Shawn Collins said commission staff is reviewing an application from an independent testing lab, a category of license that the commission agreed to prioritize because all non-medical marijuana sold in Massachusetts must first be tested and approved by a lab.

The commission had hoped to launch legal non-medical marijuana sales by July 1 but has since refused to put a timeline on the rollout of an industry voters approved at the ballot in 2016.

Here’s where marijuana companies are looking to open retail pot shops in Massachusetts
Here’s where marijuana companies are looking to open retail pot shops in Massachusetts

The commission on Thursday will also discuss “host community agreement guidance” as the required agreements between marijuana businesses and municipalities draw increased scrutiny amid the slower-than-anticipated industry rollout.

While marijuana remains unavailable at the legal retail level, it’s been legal for adults in Massachusetts to grow and use marijuana since December 2016.