Pluto Cannabis asks Leominster to approve takeover of downtown dispensary; council keeps hearing open

Pluto Cannabis representatives asked the Leominster City Council on March 23 to approve a special-permit transfer that would let the company assume ownership and operational control of an adult-use marijuana retail store at 130 Pioneer Drive currently under receivership.

Peter D'Agostino, a partner at 10x Strategies speaking for Pluto Cannabis, told the council the receiver and the Cannabis Control Commission have approved a change-of-operator in principle and that Pluto has been managing the location to keep it operating. "We've maintained the existing staff and increased staff by about 25%," D'Agostino said, adding that Pluto's management has produced roughly a 20% increase in revenue during the months it has operated the site. He said those gains preserve the city's excise-tax revenue stream and sustained jobs at the location.

The company presented a brief history of its experience operating a similar site in Lynn and said it has executed a new host-community agreement that it described as compliant with recent state law changes. D'Agostino said Pluto has been working with Leominster code enforcement and police, has provided requested documents, and would file closing notices with the court and the Cannabis Control Commission if the council approves the transfer.

Luke Bolak, Leominster's code enforcement officer, told the council he had reviewed site plans and security protocols and that, based on his inspections, the current management has implemented required security measures. "Everything looks great," Bolak said, and he recommended periodic check-ins — suggesting quarterly visits — and documentation to ensure ongoing compliance.

Councilors pressed the applicant on several points that had troubled the prior operator, including an allegation that a back door had been propped open in earlier years. D'Agostino said employees receive required "responsible vendor" and security training under Cannabis Control Commission rules and that Pluto will document that training and make records available for police and code enforcement review.

Several councilors also asked that financial reporting be part of the oversight. D'Agostino and the applicant said they are willing to meet at least annually with the council and to share the reports required under the host-community agreement. Council members noted the city ordinance already calls for an annual status/financial report from marijuana facilities.

Because the council had not yet received referrals from the police, planning and fire departments, the chairwoman of the legal affairs committee recommended keeping the public hearing open to allow those referrals to be filed and reviewed. The council set a continuation for April 13 at 6:35 p.m. and asked the clerk to confirm when outstanding referrals arrive.

What happens next: the council will review the outstanding departmental referrals and any additional documentation the applicant files; if the council approves the transfer, the parties expect to close the transaction with the receiver and file required notices with both the court and the Cannabis Control Commission.