A coterie of businesspeople, including two from the area, were granted a special use permit by the Warren Zoning Board to open a marijuana retail operation on Market Street following two recent meetings on the topic, including a special forum held Monday night, Feb. 2.

As advertised, the board by a unanimous 4-0 vote approved "Application # ZB-25-34, East Bay Cannabis LLC, owner and Michael Borges, applicant, 317 Market St., Plat Map 21, Lot 3, request for a Special Use Permit, to allow Retail Cannabis, in the Rural Business Zoning District."

Borges, of Bristol, was identified as one of three owners seeking the permit. The others were Eric Powers of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Zachary Rivers, also of Bristol and who was in attendance at the February meeting.

Due to the nature of the subject, Zoning Board Chairman Jason Rainone called for a roll-call vote. He, vice chair Charles Thibaudeau along with Bert Rodrigues and Michael Alves each were in the affirmative.

The application was approved with conditions as recommended by Associate Town Solicitor Benjamin Ferreira prior to the vote.

Those were that the proposed new structure meet all requirements set forth by the planning board when it takes up the matter, that it meets all local, state, and federal regulations, where applicable and that the security plan for the business be approved by the Warren Police Department and also follow all state and local regulations.

Last Monday's special session was a continuance from the board's January 21 meeting when the matter was initially discussed. Rainone explained the carryover was needed because his fellow members "had some concerns, and there was also a question of whether or not we had then provided adequate time to go through the materials."

Of note as well, Rainone reiterated both before and after the vote was taken the board did not hear any public testimony for or against the application at either the January 21 or February 2 meetings.

With the special use permit in tow, the property owners, Market Street Industrial LLC that includes Rivers, can continue its approach to the planning board on their proposed new 7,500-square foot retail space and a 39,600 sf manufacturing/warehouse space at the site. Planning gave approval to Market Street Industrial LLC at the master plan stage in November of last year.

The retail shop would be housed in the new retail structure Market Street Industrial LLC is seeking to construct at the location, which is the former home of the East Bay Educational Collaborative that now is occupied by two businesses: East Bay Pickleball and a boat repair operation.

As he did a few weeks prior, Patrick McBurney, an attorney with the firm of Pannone Lopes Devereaux and O'Gara located in Johnston, represented the applicants and went through the numerous requirements of the town's dispensary ordinance during the February 2 discussion.

Key among those was that the cannabis operation would not adversely affect the use of any proposed locations  of "a school, public or private park, playground, playfield, youth center, licensed daycare center or any other location where groups of minors regularly congregate."

"I don't think there's been any testimony or any evidence that there is a school, public or private park, playground, playfield, youth center, or licensed daycare center within the vicinity," McBurney said. "Therefore we go to the catchall, which is any other location where groups of minors regularly congregate."

In addition, the licensed cannabis retailer will not be located within 100 feet of the nearest residential zoning district, which is over 250 feet away, nor will it be within 500 feet of the nearest school. McBurney said the proposed location is more than that distance from the nearest educational facility, the Highlander Charter School across Market Street.

McBurney also noted his clients have already begun the process of submitting the proper paperwork associated with the proposed security plan to the Warren PD. Security, as well, is also a component of the lighting plan for the proposed new structure when the cannabis retail store would be located.

Illumination and security are two heavily emphasized regulations of the state's Cannabis Control Commission, the oversight body of all things related to marijuana sales and usage.

It has licensing authority as well. A total of 24 new cannabis dispensary licenses are being created. The deadline for applications was December 31, 2025.

The commission is in the midst of a 90-day review period. Those applicants who have satisfied the initial criteria are then provided a 60-day window to allow them to secure approvals at the local level in order to qualify for the lottery, which is expected to take place in May.

The potential for a dispensary in Warren only really came about in recent months. Late last year, the town council moved on the matter, doing so long after residents backed referendum.

During the 2022 election, voters by a margin of 57.6%-42.4% (2,278-1,678) approved the issuance of cannabis licenses in Warren. At that time, the state required municipalities to hold an up-or-down referendum on the subject or face the possibility of dispensaries being placed there without their consent.