With the location announcement for Rhode Island's first "compassion center" just weeks away, the Town Council adopted a new ordinance on Tuesday night, making town specific regulations for these medical marijuana facilities.

"Under the Medical Marijuana Act it is a requirement of cities and towns that each applicant has to be in compliance with the local zoning board. This will give teeth to the laws," said Town Attorney Timothy Chapman. State regulations for compassion centers require that they be at least 500 feet from a school, have alarm and security measures to deter theft and follow dispense and possession restrictions.

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With the selection announcement drawing near, municipalities, businesses and neighborhoods are bracing themselves in the event that a compassion center may be coming to the area.

Three of the 15 compassion center applicants have proposed sites in Warwick, one of which may be chosen as the first center to sell marijuana to patients in the state's growing medical-marijuana program.

"Obviously, the city has concerns about such a business and we have made suggestions that a proposed center should really be part of a larger medical facility and have the requisite amount of medical supervision as well," said Mayor Scott Avedisian.

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