By Theresa Knapp 

Green River Cannabis Company, Inc. is working hard to open an adult cannabis retail store in Hopedale but is having trouble finding the right location. 

Company part-owner and Attleboro lawyer Constant Poholek, Jr. was back before the Hopedale Select Board on March 14 to discuss, unofficially, a third site after the first two - 54 Mellen Street and 5ECondon Way (site currently listed on the Host Community Agreement) - were not supported by the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Poholek said the ZBA indicated it would not approve the Condon Way site because there was not enough parking. He expressed frustration with the process saying he feels he is “going around in circles” trying to build his business in Hopedale. He said the Select Board had unofficially given its support to the project but then the ZBA denied it. 

Poholek said, “I believe the Zoning Board, Planning Board, and the Selectmen [sic] are not all on the same page as it relates to what is happening with cannabis retail.” 

Select Board Chair Brian Keyes explained, “The three boards have different roles and responsibilities, they all have their different oversight so there’s going to be things that are aligned and there’s going to be things that are not aligned in regards to the charter of that particular board.” 

Now, Green River Cannabis is considering a shop in the 150-156 Hartford Avenue shopping plaza (in the former Rose Day Spa) where there is ample parking. It is located near the intersection of Routes 126 and 140, and abuts Caroline’s Cannabis at 4 Charlesview Road. 

Poholek said he has spoken with the plaza owner and has obtained a Letter of Intent. He said the nature of his business is a “small, appointment-only type of business with a limited traffic flow” and this location also offers room to grow. 

This latest change of address would require a zoning change which would go before town meeting and require a two-thirds majority vote. The area is zoned commercial but is not zoned for cannabis use. 

Select Board member Louis Arcudi III suggested Poholek speak to the Planning Board “to see what their appetite is of changing that zone to cannabis under commercial” and gauge whether they would be willing to put the issue on the annual town meeting warrant in May. 

Keyes said, if the Planning Board is amenable, “it makes this board’s ability to say yes to an address change, even though the zoning would still have to go through a town meeting, a bit more amenable.”