The office actively conducts outreach and establishes communication with applicants who have previously been qualified.
Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant
After plans to build a compassion center in Woonsocket fell through, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission wants to grant a license for a new one in northern Rhode Island.
Three-member Commission has reopened the application period for those who were qualified to operate medical marijuana dispensaries under the initial 2021 licensing process. Submissions are due on September 18, 2018. A business must open in the Zone 1 area, which is Burrillville. Cumberland. Glocester. North Smithfield. Woonsocket. Smithfield has been excluded as the voters of 2022 narrowly voted against allowing cannabis retail shops to open in this town.
R.M.I. According to the website of Compassion Center Inc., the company won the Fall 2021 Zone 1 License and plans to be open in Walnut Hill plaza in Woonsocket as early as last summer. R.M.I faced immediate pushback by local zoning authorities, which led to an eventual court case that R.M.I eventually won.
The center was never open and R.M.I. According to an order by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, the company withdrew their application in January when they failed to comply with the licensing requirements of the state in September 2024.
Paul Isikwe who appears on documents of state as being the President of the Business, has not responded to a request for comments.
The lottery for 2021 was won by four other applicants: Livity Compassion Center Inc.; Medici Compassionate Care Center Inc.; New Leaf Compassion Center Inc.
Charon rose, a spokeswoman for the Commission, stated in an email that no one had reapplied until Tuesday. And a Medici executive told Rhode Island Current that they wouldn’t try to reapply.
“It takes a lot of work—we’d have to get property again and redo everything,” said Christopher Roy. “And the other problem is the fees—it just makes it impossible to do business.”
Rose explained that “the office actively conducts outreach and establishes communication with previous qualified applicants in order to help them understand the process and timeframe.” Rose said, “We are available to respond to any questions. We remain committed to maintaining a transparent and smooth process moving forward.”
Rose stated that applicants who have already been approved will not be required to pay the fee again. Compassion centers that are approved must pay $500,000. The annual licensing fee for compassion centers is $500,000.
Thomas Mirza said, however, that the president of New Leaf Compassion Center still plans to apply for a license in northern Rhode Island. Mirza plans to sell cannabis recreationally as well under a hybrid licence.
In an interview on Tuesday, he stated: “You must do it. Otherwise economics won’t function.”
The state would have eight compassion centers if Zone 1 was added. Nearly $2.9 million of revenue was collected in the first quarter.
The 24 retail licenses that will be available under the new law legalizing recreational sales in 2022 are yet to be opened by the regulators.
The original publication of this story is Rhode Island Currant.
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