Council passes first reading to allow cannabis retail in select business districts, adds 1‑mile spacing and refers ordinance to planning board
October 14, 2025 | Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island
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Warren — The Warren Town Council on Oct. 14 passed a first reading and sent a proposed zoning amendment allowing retail sale of cannabis products in the business and rural business districts to the planning board for review, and it asked staff to add a one‑mile separation requirement between retailers.
Town Solicitor and planning consultants briefed the council on the procedural requirements for amending the zoning ordinance under R.I. law. Solicitor advice: zoning amendments of this type must be referred to the planning board for a recommendation on consistency with the comprehensive plan and must be set for a public hearing with the required advertising. Councilors also discussed the timetable for the state’s license lottery for retail cannabis applications; industry representative Nick Andre urged the council to move quickly if the town wanted municipal approvals in hand before the state's application cutoff.
Key provisions and council direction: The draft ordinance would allow cannabis retail by special‑use permit in the business and rural business zoning districts only. Councilors added direction to include an explicit separation standard (a one‑mile buffer) between cannabis retail outlets in local zoning to limit concentration. The council voted to pass first reading, refer the amendment to the planning board and to set it for public hearing with required notice.
Why it matters: A local zoning amendment is needed to establish where cannabis retail may operate within the town. Passing the local ordinance does not guarantee a retail operation in Warren — state licensing and lotteries will ultimately determine who receives the right to operate — but local zoning and special use permitting are prerequisites for a lawful local retail location.
Next steps: Planning board review and a public hearing are required; councilors also discussed adding conditions to special use permits to reflect state regulatory requirements. The council approved the first reading, the referral, and the added one‑mile separation provision.
Town Solicitor and planning consultants briefed the council on the procedural requirements for amending the zoning ordinance under R.I. law. Solicitor advice: zoning amendments of this type must be referred to the planning board for a recommendation on consistency with the comprehensive plan and must be set for a public hearing with the required advertising. Councilors also discussed the timetable for the state’s license lottery for retail cannabis applications; industry representative Nick Andre urged the council to move quickly if the town wanted municipal approvals in hand before the state's application cutoff.
Key provisions and council direction: The draft ordinance would allow cannabis retail by special‑use permit in the business and rural business zoning districts only. Councilors added direction to include an explicit separation standard (a one‑mile buffer) between cannabis retail outlets in local zoning to limit concentration. The council voted to pass first reading, refer the amendment to the planning board and to set it for public hearing with required notice.
Why it matters: A local zoning amendment is needed to establish where cannabis retail may operate within the town. Passing the local ordinance does not guarantee a retail operation in Warren — state licensing and lotteries will ultimately determine who receives the right to operate — but local zoning and special use permitting are prerequisites for a lawful local retail location.
Next steps: Planning board review and a public hearing are required; councilors also discussed adding conditions to special use permits to reflect state regulatory requirements. The council approved the first reading, the referral, and the added one‑mile separation provision.
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