Some believed Little Compton's odds of ever securing a retail marijuana license were long at best, but voters took no chances Tuesday and rejected a move that would have allowed the retail sale of the drug in their town.

The vote was 1,141 to reject and 858 to approve (57.1 to 42.9 percent), and made Little Compton one of only two East Bay towns to reject retail sales and opt out of the chance to receive one of 24 licenses available statewide. Barrington voters also said no, but the measure passed in East Providence, Warren, Bristol, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton.

In Tiverton, which for years has shared the state line with Northeast Alternatives, a busy recreational dispensary just off Stafford Road in Fall River, the measure passed 3,230 for and 2,666 against.

Though Little Compton voters put the matter to rest, it might have been a moot point: Some town officials believed the rural, isolated community's chances of ever qualifying for a license from the state were unlikely.

The Rhode Island Cannabis Act, passed in late May, creates six zones to evenly distribute 24 available recreational licenses across the state. Each zone will get four, and Zone 6 includes Little Compton, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Warren and Little Compton.

 Little Compton town councilors said in late July that while it was unlikely the town would ever qualify for a license, the voters in November should be decide whether they want to allow one.

"Because of our size, it is not likely that we would be assigned one of the available licenses," Andrew W. Iriarte-Moore said. Still, "I'm totally fine with putting it on the ballot."

Councilor Gary Mataronas agreed, and suggested that putting the matter to a public referendum was the council's best option, so the voters' voices could be heard.