WILTON — Planning Board members last week approved a use application, based on certain conditions being met, to locate a medical marijuana dispensary in the unused building next to Dexter Supply on Route 2.

The final vote was not unanimous, with four yes and two no votes and one abstention, as some members voiced concerns about the “vagueness” of the plan, while others felt the applicants, Lucas J. Sirois and Charles Crandall, had completed the application as requested.

Board members Michael Sherrod, Sheryl Mosher, Charles Lavin and Douglas Hiltz voted yes; Keith Shoaps and Maxine Collins voted no; and Bryce Weeks abstained.

The business partners had brought their proposed plan for “Ahead Care” before the board two weeks ago, but the board tabled the item when all their questions could not be answered.

They requested the partners return with a better floor plan, list of their board of directors and a nonprofit plan for the proposed dispensary.

Sirois and Crandall have applied for a Wilton and a Farmington location but either or neither could be chosen when the state Department of Health and Human Services makes its decisions in early July on placement of the dispensaries within eight zones in Maine.

“People did vote for it. It’s legal,” said board member Sheryl Mosher, as she suggested the board “look at the plan as complete with what we asked.”

Raising questions on disposal of the unsold product and dosage used in onsite baked products, some board members expressed suspicions and felt the plans were still too vague. Their first vote was tied at 3–3 and one abstention.

It’s a catch-22 situation, according to Crandall. This is new for the state and new for applicants, he said.

“We’re creating the whole thing without much guidance,” he said following the meeting. “It’s a long process.”

Lawyers and business planners are working daily to finalize a plan, but the partners have until June 25 to submit it to the state, he explained. Plans for sites in other zones have become more difficult as more towns are placing moratoriums on the dispensaries, and an applicant with out-of-state corporate funding has expressed interest in applying, he said.

Some board members wanted to see a completed plan similar to what they will submit to the state. One board member changed his vote, accepting the application as complete with a list of items needed in order to have final consent. The actual permit will not be granted until conditions including construction and plumbing permits, fire marshal and state health inspection, sellers license, a copy of nonprofit status, corporate bylaws and a completed copy of the application to the state are submitted.

While expressing their concerns and those of other residents, Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague reminded the board that as long as the application is not in violation to the town’s ordinances, their work was completed.

“You might not like cell towers, but you can’t say no,” he said of someone who might apply for one in Wilton.

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