New Leaf Marijuana Firm Appeals Pawtucket Dispensary Denial

PAWTUCKET, RI — Providence attorney Thomas Mirza, the CEO and chief compliance officer of New Leaf Compassion Center, is still pushing his plan to build a medical marijuana dispensary at 30 India Street.

The Pawtucket Planning Commission on March 16 voted 3-0 to deny Mirza's application to build a 2,700 square-foot compassion center branded as "Fine Fettle Dispensary." Mirza now plans to argue his case before the Zoning Board of Appeals tonight (update: this hearing has been postponed to a later date). Mirza is joined in his effort to gain local permitting by 30 India Street, LLC, owner of the industrial-zoned property.

The area is zoned as "Industrial Open." However, the proposed dispensary is within 200 feet of a residential zoning district and within 1,000 feet of a public recreation field. Members of the Planning Board in March discussed neighborhood impacts, including the potential volume of customer visits. They stated that the proposal was not consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, minutes from that meeting state.

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In addition to local approval, Mirza will need a compassion center license from the Office of Cannabis Regulation within the state's Department of Business Regulation. The DBR plans a lottery to award six new compassion center licenses in six geographical zones across the state. That lottery won't be held until at least August. Three compassion centers are already licensed in Rhode Island in Providence, Portsmouth, and Warwick.

New Leaf has secured lease options within four of the six zones, with options on properties at 24 Stafford Court in Cranston; 4115 Mendon Road in Cumberland; and 16-24 Central Street in Central Falls, according to application records filed with the state.

New Leaf Compassion Center, Inc. "will only lease one of the above listed properties if selected for a Compassion Center license," the company promised in its application with cannabis regulators.

The city of Pawtucket requires a special use permit for a medical marijuana dispensary at the proposed location. The applicant must also pass development plan review.

Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held on Zoom.