Mansfield Planning Board Signs Off on Medical Marijuana Dispensary

MANSFIELD, MA — The area's first medical marijuana dispensary has the go-ahead to open in Mansfield.

Wednesday night, the Planning Board issued a special permit to Commcan, allowing the medical marijuana producer to open up shop on West Street in the Cabot Business Park. When they open, Commcan's Mansfield location will be the first medical marijuana dispensary in town or in any of the abutting communities.

All the voting members of the board said that the benefits outweigh the detriments, noting that there is sufficient parking and the traffic impact will be minimal, according to a study.

"The property is somewhat restricted because of its size and this seems like a good use. It's a new use and no one knows what's going to happen but I don't think it will be a detriment to the area," board member Ralph Penney said.

Only those with state-issued medical marijuana cards will be allowed inside the tightly secured facility. No loitering or on-site production-consumption will be allowed.

Next for Commcan is the construction process. Founder Ellen Rosenfeld said their cultivation facility in Medway is under construction and should be completed in the spring or summer. Their first location in Southboro is scheduled to open in fall 2017, with Mansfield to follow in early 2018. A third dispensary in Millis has town approval. The group has provisional approval from the state for the Mansfield location and will be able to get full approval once the building is constructed.

In April, the selectmen voted to issue a letter of support for the project and approved the mitigation agreement in September. Despite recreational marijuana being legalized in Massachusetts, the dispensary will remain medical only.

Image: file photo