Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Proposed In Mansfield

MANSFIELD, MA — Mansfield could get its first marijuana business if a proposal for a recreational dispensary at 321 School St., across from the Mansfield Crossing shopping plaza is approved. Representatives from Releaf Alternative presented a proposal for a pot shop at last week's Select Board meeting on June 5, and answered several of the board's questions about security, parking, how marijuana will be sold on site, and the planning board process.

Releaf Alternative CEO Connor McLaughlin said the marijuana will be highly regulated and is more than 500 feet away from schools and parks. It will be grown organically, be prepackaged, and the 3,200 square-foot store will not allow any public consumption on site. The company plans to sell a variety of products including, several varieties of traditional marijuana, edibles, oils, and patches.

"I believe our floor plan is well thought-out and our design is elegant and simplistic with an emphasis on safety," McLaughlin told the select board.

Releaf proposed being open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. If given the green light to open, the dispensary will at first, require customers to make appointments; walk-ins would come later. There will be 200 parking spaces available for customers, while employees would be shuttled from another offsite lot.

Former Rochester, New Hampshire Police Chief Michael Allen works as a consultant for the business. Allen said while he was police chief, a cultivation facility opened in Rochester, giving him some experience with making marijuana facilities secure. He presented the select board Releaf's security plan for the facility. Releaf will have several security checkpoints before customers can purchase marijuana, all of which scan the customer's identification for validity.

With the exception of restrooms, there will be security cameras in every room. Releaf is also hiring uniformed security guards for inside and outside the store. Any deliveries to the store will require finger print checks, and there will be panic buttons installed throughout the building.

"It will probably be the most secure facility in your community," Allen said.

Allen reviewed the security plans with Police Chief Ronald Sellon, who provided input and approved the plan, according to Allen.

"He reviewed our plans and he gave me good input and good insight," Allen said.

The select board is expected to discuss and potentially approve a community host agreement between Mansfield and Releaf at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m., June 19. If approved at the next meeting, the proposal would be heard at a public meeting before the planning board.

Like most Massachusetts community host agreements, Mansfield would get 3 percent of the company's sales revenue. Hiring Mansfield residents for the company's projected 10 to 15 projected jobs is also considered a priority.