Categories: News

Pomfret Zoning Board Approves Town’s First Permanent Cannabis Retail Shop

Board Grants Special Use Permit

The Pomfret Zoning Board has approved the town’s first permanent cannabis retail shop. The board granted a special use permit to Empire Smoke Shop 9 for the operation of a cannabis retail dispensary in an existing commercial building at 10376 Bennett Road, Fredonia, just beyond the roundabout off Route 60.

The store will be named Marz Cannabis. It will be located in the same plaza as O’Reilly Auto Parts and Firehouse Subs, which also features a liquor store and a hair salon. The dispensary will be licensed and regulated by the State Office of Cannabis Management.

Corey Auerbach, from the law firm Barclay Damon LLP, said the property is “precisely the type of location contemplated by the town for this use an existing commercial space that will be reused and reactivated, in the mixed use corridor.”

Application Timeline

The application was filed in June, and representatives were in contact with the town in preparation of a formal proposal on Sept. Following that proposal, the Zoning Board closed its public hearing while reserving decision to a later date.

The board did so with the intent of issuing a decision after consulting with legal counsel and additional time to discuss the application. After discussion, the board officially approved the special use permit application.

Earlier this month, at a continuance of the September meeting, representatives from Empire Smoke Shop 9 were welcomed before the Zoning Board again for further discussion.

Board Vote

Michaelene Comerford, Ruth Eckstrom, and Chairman of the Board David Fridmann all voted in favor of the project. Ray Lewandowski voted against it.

Jonathan Townsend, Zoning Board Alternate, abstained from the vote after not attending the initial presentation. Alex Moon was absent from the vote.

The approval marks the first permanent marijuana retail shop permitted in the town of Pomfret. The dispensary will operate as Marz Cannabis at the Bennett Road location, subject to licensing and regulation by the State Office of Cannabis Management.

Related Stories

Friday

Friday is a San Diego based writer covering cannabis news, culture, and business. Known for sharp analysis and clean reporting, Friday helps readers navigate the industry without the fluff. Every article is built on research, real sources, and a deep commitment to the cannabis community.

Recent Posts

NORML Commissioned Poll Shows Cannabis Policy Could Sway Four In Five Consumer Votes

Poll Finds Cannabis Policy Is A Voting Issue For Most Consumers A poll released Tuesday by NuggMD at the request…

4 hours ago

Cannabis Industry Digest For October 23 2026

This week's cannabis news spans consumer safety, sleep science, and territorial market growth. A Colorado state audit found regulatory gaps…

10 hours ago

Booker Slams DEA Rule That Punishes Marijuana Businesses For Hiring Workers With Past Convictions

Booker Calls DEA Policy Ridiculous Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is criticizing the Drug Enforcement Administration over a policy that could…

13 hours ago

New Study Finds Teen Cannabis Use Does Not Rise As Dispensaries Expand

Study Tracks Retailers and Teen Use in Canada A new study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence finds…

16 hours ago

Missouri Health Department Finds 93 Percent Of Cannabis Consumers Buy From Licensed Shops

Study Shows Strong Regulated Market Adoption The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services published a new study last week…

1 day ago

Aurida Cannabis Shareholders Urged To Reject Curaleaf’s 86 Percent Premium Offer

Aurora Rejects Curaleaf's Revised Bid Aurora Cannabis Inc. is urging its shareholders to reject Curaleaf Holdings Inc.'s revised hostile takeover…

1 day ago

NUG Magazine is published and distributed by NUG Magazine LLC. Established in 2009,
We have been bringing you the latest and up to date information from the cannabis market.
All contents are for entertainment and educational purposes only and are intended for mature audiences.

Products

Search Nug Magazine!

Advertisement

Instagram @Nugmagazine

[instagram-feed]

About NUG

We are the #1 Source for your Cannabis news and information