MIDDLEBORO — Two cannabis businesses in town are looking to expand their operations to allow for delivery.

Delivery service was not something contemplated when the town was discussing licensing limits for retail years back, but is a reality now due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which temporarily closed recreational marijuana dispensaries.

Attorney Jonathan Silverstein from KP Law, who has been acting as a consultant regarding marijuana regulations for the town, stated that delivery licenses are a separate entity from the retail sales licenses, which is why separate host community agreements need to be negotiated.

The first one, Ember Gardens, is owned by Fuego Farms, who already has a host community agreement with the town and is building a facility on Wareham Street for cultivation and manufacturing.

The second one is Artis, the home delivery arm for ARL Healthcare, located on Harding Street.

Both companies will be offering their own products for delivery instead of product from other retailers.

“Everyone wants it in an instant. We’ll be hurting ourselves if we don’t allow delivery. Other towns will have delivery and we’ll get nothing for it,” said Tim Shaw, of Brockton, owner of ARL Healthcare, pointing to the lost revenue and potential to hurt retail in the town if these delivery licenses are declined.

The current time has been tough for ARL Healthcare, Shaw said, as it didn’t obtain a license for medical delivery before the pandemic and statewide shutdown happened. Shaw said the dispensary is expected to start medical delivery in a matter of weeks.

The pandemic also delayed a crucial inspection from the state that would have authorized the dispensary to sell adult-use marijuana at ARL Healthcare. Shaw said the final inspection will happen sometime this summer.

Selectman Neil Rosenthal called the whole progress “obnoxious” and said he didn’t want to put either company at a disadvantage by not allowing them to offer delivery.

The Board of Selectmen authorized Town Manager Robert Nunes to negotiate host community agreements for delivery with both companies.