A man who wants to put a cannabis store in downtown Fredonia discussed his plans with an advisory committee last week. Meanwhile, there’s word that a second person is interested in opening such a shop.

Vince Lockett spoke to the cannabis advisory committee put together by Fredonia Trustee Jon Espersen to navigate the village through the perils of legalized pot. Both that committee, and the Pomfret Town Board just a few minutes later, discussed the intention of Rick Denslow to open a shop in the town.

Lockett said he wants to open the shop at West Main Street, but acknowledged he is looking into other sites. There are concerns that the store, if located on Main Street, would be within 500 feet of school property, namely the Wheelock school and the football field.

Committee members said that the state Office of Cannabis Management, which issues licenses for cannabis sales, might not see that as a deal breaker. However, both they and Lockett added that state officials want to see local support before issuing any license.

“It really comes down to how the feel of the village is,” Lockett said. He said if a proposed location for a dispensary falls through, the state offers 30 days to find a new spot.

The committee will advise the village Board of Trustees, which will then pass it on to the state, that it has concerns about the distance of Lockett’s proposed site from school property. The committee sees no problems with him or his application otherwise.

Everyone agreed that, due to multiple lawsuits and a confusing rollout, the state’s foray into legal weed offers a foggy outlook. A good example: there was discussion about the growers’ showcases the state was offering as problems with the licensing process get worked out. However, a spectator correctly pointed out that just last week, the state declared those would be ending Dec. 31.

Lockett said he originally applied for a Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license, intended for so-called “justice-involved” individuals as a sort of makeup for prior experiences when cannabis was illegal. But the state got sued over CAURD and the program was put on hold — and officials then told Lockett he should apply for a general license. However, “then last Friday, CAURD came back into play,” he said, because a key lawsuit got settled.

Lockett said his business plan has been submitted to the state — and now he needs support from village officials.

Mayor-elect Mike Ferguson gave him some. “Fredonia is open for business,” he said. Ferguson said three things are key to improving Fredonia: support current businesses, welcome new business and bring in more residents.

Lockett touted the state-licensed dispensaries as regulated and safe, suggesting that people who buy from the booming Seneca Nation of Indians dispensary scene can’t be sure what they’re getting. If his cannabis store goes in, “here, it’s actually helping the community,” he said.

Denslow’s plans are less clear.

Jon Sedota, who is on both the cannabis panel and the Pomfret Town Board, noted to both entities Wednesday that the town had received correspondence from Denslow about his intent to sell marijuana in the town. There was little more information about it — Sedota wasn’t sure Denslow has even formally applied to the state for a license.

Town Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro advised town officials that there is no action they can take on Denslow’s correspondence. However, Passafaro noted that whatever he has planned will have to abide by a local law on cannabis dispensaries that the board passed a couple months ago.

“It should be reviewed as to our local law. If it is not in compliance, we respond to the state board, it’s not in compliance,” the attorney said.