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Medical Marijuana License Applicants Include Supreme Court Justice’s Family, Lobbyists & Politicians

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

GoLocalProv News Team

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GoLocal has a complete breakdown of who has applied for the new and expanded list of medical marijuana licenses -- so-called compassion centers -- and the applicants include some of the top insiders in Rhode Island and even one sitting mayor.

All applications needed to be filed last week with the State of Rhode Island. The applicants' directors are almost exclusively male, white and an overwhelming number of high-level political players -- lobbyists, past and present elected officials and some big campaign donors. For each of the applicants, the cost is $10,000 and if selected, the license fee is $500,000.

Former State Representative Robert Flaherty -- the brother of outgoing Supreme Court Justice Frank Flaherty -- has applied for not one but two licenses. Flaherty is the director of two different companies vying for the elusive prizes.

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SEE ALL THE APPLICANTS -- AND DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANIES -- BELOW

Mayor James Diossa

Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, who was term-limited from running again, is an applicant. He has teamed up with, among others, former State Senator Rhoda Perry. Diossa is still the sitting Mayor in Central Falls. Diossa's wife is sitting State Senator Sandra Cano.

Raimondo Connections and Plenty of Lobbyists

Some of the applicants have close ties to Governor Gina Raimondo — like investment banker Mark Pelson. He served on her transition team in 2015. He also made GoLocal’s list of Rhode Island’s Wealthiest and Most Influential.

Pelson is teamed up with State House lobbyist Frank McMahon whose clients have included Providence College and Delta Dental over the years.

Providence School Committee Chairman Nick Hemond is part of another group filling for a license — he is also a State House lobbyist and a member of the law firm Darrow Everett.

Another group applying includes State House lobbyists Rick McAuliffe and Jeff Taylor, currently partners in the Mayforth Group — they represented Tobacco-Free Kids, MetLife and AAA Northeast to name a few of their 2020 lobbying clients, according to state records.

Another company applying for a license includes a top executive at Foxwoods, a former State Police senior officer and a former City of Providence employee who was fired for a range of violations.

According to the State's regulations, these licenses will be awarded "through a fair and transparent lottery-based licensure process established in the Rules and Regulations Related to the Medical Marijuana Program Administered by the Department of Business Regulation."

For finalists, who are selected the regulations state, "Selected Applicants must schedule and receive a final pre-license inspection prior to the Department’s issuance of a compassion center license. Additionally, all registry identification card requirements, including completion of national criminal background checks, payment of the $500,000 licensing fee, and all other licensing conditions and requirements under the Act and Regulations must be satisfied prior to the Department’s issuance of a license."

Six Zones for Licenses

Geographic Boundaries/ Number of New Licenses Available in the Zone

Zone 1 Burrillville, Cumberland, Glocester, North Smithfield, Smithfield, and Woonsocket

1 License Available

Zone 2 Central Falls, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, and Providence

1 License Available

Zone 3 Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich, and West Warwick

1 License Available

Zone 4 Cranston, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, and Warwick

1 License Available

Zone 5 Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, Richmond, South Kingstown, and Westerly

1 License Available

Zone 6 Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, New Shoreham, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren

1 License Available

SEE ALL THE APPLICANTS AND WHO ARE THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANIES BELOW

Related Slideshow: Meet the Compassion Center Applicants - Dec. 2020

Livity Compassion Center

DIRECTOR JEFF FOSS 185 YORK AVENUE PAWTUCKET, RI

DIRECTOR DANIELLE FOSS 185 YORK AVENUE PAWTUCKET, RI

DIRECTOR JOEL TROJAN 1988 LOUISQUISSET PIKE LINCOLN, RI -- President & CEO at Century Drywall Inc. in Lincoln.

Medici Compassionate Care Center, Inc.

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER EDWARD ROY 12 EDELWEISS AVE LINCOLN, RI 02865 USA - Retired Woonsocket Police Officer

DIRECTOR MATTHEW J RADEBACH 13 STONE GATE DRIVE WARREN, RI 02885 USA

DIRECTOR EDWARD MAURICE ROY 63 LILAC AVE WOONSOCKET, RI 02895 USA

New Leaf Compassion Center Inc

MANAGER RICHARD W RADEBACH 2077 EAST MAIN ROAD PORTSMOUTH, RI

DIRECTOR THOMAS MIRZA 197 TAUNTON AVENUE EAST PROVIDENCE, RI

DIRECTOR DAVID BAZAR 70 NORTH CLIFF DRIVE NARRAGANSETT, RI

DIRECTOR GEORGE CANCEL 31 BAKEWELL COURT CRANSTON, RI - Heads Tele-Networks and has given in excess of $20,000 in political donations to Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello and Speaker-elect Joe Shekarchi.

Pinnacle Compassion Center Inc.

DIRECTOR COURTNEY E. GUILBERT 108 MICHAELA COURT WEST KINGSTON, RI

DIRECTOR MICHAEL BISZKO JR 149 NORTH COURT TIVERTON, RI - Donated $1,000 to Speaker Nick Mattiello in 2019, listing his employer as his family construction business. And Michael III also donated $1,000.

DIRECTOR CLAY RESNICK 45 SANDRA COURT BRISTOL, RI

DIRECTOR DOUGLAS GUILBERT 108 MICHAELA COURT WEST KINGSTON, RI -- In 2019, gave Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello $1,000 under the corporate name Eden of RI, a RI marijuana cultivation business.

R.M.I. Compassion Center, Inc.

President and Director PAUL J ISIKWE, PHARMD, MS 100 EXCHANGE STREET, UNIT 505 PROVIDENCE, RI

Director MAKANJUOLA A. FALAYE, MBA, CPA 190 BROAD STREET, SUITE 3W PROVIDENCE, RI

Director CLEOPATRA M IRELAND, MBA 100 EXCHANGE STREET, UNIT 505 PROVIDENCE, RI

Ascend Rhode Island Compassion Center

DIRECTOR ROBERT E. FLAHERTY 70 JEFFERSON BOULEVARD WARWICK, RI - Former State Representative and brother of Supreme Court Justice Frank Flaherty.

DIRECTOR ARTHUR BOWDISH 36 11TH STREET PROVIDENCE, RI

DIRECTOR KATHLEEN M. HAGERTY 85 CARA COURT NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - Former prosecutor in the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.

Faded Minds, Inc.

DIRECTOR DAVID BRAYTON 255 JOHN DYER RD LITTLE COMPTON, RI

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS VALEN SOTELO 9 KING RD MIDDLETOWN, RI 02842 USA

DIRECTOR PETER A. D'ALLESANDRO 1 POTTERSVILLE RD LITTLE COMPTON, RI 02837 USA

Lucy Rozen Compassion Center

DIRECTOR DAVID VINCENT ROZEN 187 SHADOW BROOK DRIVE WARWICK, RI - Top executive with Foxwoods.

DIRECTOR DAVID JOSEPH MEDEIROS 56 DEERFIELD COURT NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - Former high ranking member of the RI State Police and RI National Guard.

DIRECTOR DAVID ANTHONY PONTARELLI 130 MADISON AVENUE CRANSTON, RI -- Fired from the City of Providence in 2012. READ MORE HERE

Perfect Union - RI

DIRECTOR RICK MCAULIFFE 65 MEADOW ST WARWICK, RI - State House lobbyist

DIRECTOR JEFF TAYLOR 65 MEADOW ST WARWICK, RI - State House lobbyist

DIRECTOR ROBERT GRILLO 65 MEADOW ST WARWICK, RI

Rhode Island Care Concepts, Inc.

DIRECTOR DAVID JOHNSTON 15 CIRCLE ST. EAST PROVIDENCE, RI 02916 USA

DIRECTOR SHANE COOPER 15 CIRCLE ST. EAST PROVIDENCE, RI 02916 USA

DIRECTOR ANDY COTTON 15 CIRCLE ST. EAST PROVIDENCE, RI 02916 USA

Rhode Island Compassion Center Inc.

DIRECTOR DAVID J DISANTO 24 1/2 WALKER RD FOSTER, RI

DIRECTOR DAVID P DISANTO 80 COOLRIDGE AVENUE GREENVILLE, RI

The two DiSantos gave Speaker-elect Joe Shekarchi $1,000 each in 2019. David P, an acoountant, also gave Speaker Nick Mattiello $1,000 a year for each of the last three years.

Sanctuary Medicinals

DIRECTOR GEOFFREY LEWIS 2 ANGELL STREET, PROVIDENCE, RI

DIRECTOR MARK PELSON 359 RUMSTICK ROAD BARRINGTON, RI - An investment banker with close ties to Governor Gina Raimondo. He served on her transition team for Governor.

DIRECTOR FRANCIS X. MCMAHON 1 SHADY LANE BARRINGTON, RI He is a long-time Rhode Island State House lobbyist.

Solar Therapeutics Rhode Island, Inc.

DIRECTOR RONALD RAPOPORT 48 LEONARD DRIVE TIVERTON, RI 02878 USA

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS J HEMOND, ESQ. 618 PLEASANT VALLEY PARKWAY PROVIDENCE, RI 02908 USA - Chair of the Providence School Committee and a State House lobbyist.

DIRECTOR JILL NASUTI 15 PALISADE LANE BARRINGTON, RI 02806 USA

Green Wave CC

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER D. SANDS 771 POST ROAD WAKEFIELD, RI 02879 USA

DIRECTOR RICHARD D. COMOLLI 771 POST ROAD WAKEFIELD, RI 02879 USA

DIRECTOR DR. ROCCO ANDREOZZI III 771 POST ROAD WAKEFIELD, RI 02879 USA

Cann Cure Compassion, Inc.

DIRECTOR GREGORY S. COOPER 3363 POST ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 USA

DIRECTOR PATRICIA A. THORNTON 3363 POST ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 USA

DIRECTOR MICHAEL WATKINS 13 GURNSEY AVENUE BRANFORD, RI 02808 USA

Coastal Farms Wellness Center, Inc.

DIRECTOR PATRICK KILROY 16 1/2 FRANKLIN STREET NEWPORT, RI 02840 USA

DIRECTOR STEPHEN ROHNER 24 POPE STREET NEWPORT, RI 02840 USA - Served as a top executive in Giovanni Feroce's Benrus.

DIRECTOR CRAIG KILROY 4 SHERMAN STREET NEWPORT, RI 02840 USA

Compassion Center of New England

DIRECTOR JASON DOLLARHIDE 20 CONGRESS RD. NARRAGANSETT, RI

DIRECTOR THOMAS P. MCGOVERN 26 HILTON RD. WARWICK, RI

DIRECTOR JANE AHLEMEYER 55 MCBRIDE DR. PORTSMOUTH, RI - Brand manager for Samsonite.

Co-op City I Inc.

DIRECTOR ROBERT HANSEN 15 MARCY ST. CRANSTON, RI

DIRECTOR CHRIS MORGAN 800 PLAINFIELD PIKE NORTH SCITUATE, RI

DIRECTOR MATTHEW RESNICK 85 PATERSON AVE WARWICK, RI

Enlite RI, Inc.

DIRECTOR LEONARD L. LOPES ONE PARK ROW, 5TH FLOOR PROVIDENCE, RI - RI State House lobbyist and an agent for a number of college coaches and administrators.

DIRECTOR PETER PICKNELLY 56 GREEN HILL OCEAN DRIVE SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI

DIRECTOR MARK CUTTING 28 APPLETON STREET HOLYOKE, MA

Mammoth Health and Wellness, Inc.

DIRECTOR SPENCER BLIER 103 BLADE STREET WARWICK, RI

DIRECTOR JON CONNORS 5471 POST ROAD EAST GREENWICH, RI

DIRECTOR STUART BURNS SMITH 319 ELMDALE ROAD NORTH SCITUATE, RI

DIRECTOR GARY BLIER 1 HALL STREET EAST GREENWICH, RI

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER B DALE 23 QUEENSFORTH WAY NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI

Members of this team are also involved with Mammoth Inc which is "a modern-day state-of-the-art medical marijuana cultivation and solvent-less extraction facility located in Rhode Island."

The Winding Rhode Compassion Center, Inc.

DIRECTOR PATRICK J. CASEY III 72 PINE STREET PROVIDENCE, RI

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS A. SALVADORE 72 PINE STREET, 1ST FL. PROVIDENCE, RI

DIRECTOR JILL E. MONIZ 72 PINE STREET, 1ST FL. PROVIDENCE, RI

In Massachusetts, some of the members of this team operate under Aspen Blue Cultures.

N&N Associates DBA South County Compassion Center

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS LACROIX 48 COLLINS AVENUE WARWICK, RI

DIRECTOR MICHAEL CAMARA 1299 MAIN STREET COVENTRY, RI

DIRECTOR MATTHEW CAMARA 31 CAMPBELL STREET WEST WARWICK, RI

DIRECTOR THOMAS L. DEPETRILLO 179 SUMMIT VIEW LANE NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS MOCERI 176 BOYLSTON DRIVE CRANSTON, RI

Moceri and DePetrillo work together in a venture capital firm in Rhode Island.

Plant Based Compassionate Care Inc.

DIRECTOR BLAKE COSTA 45 MAIZE CORN ROAD PORTSMOUTH, RI

DIRECTOR ANNA TUCKER 212 SANDY LANE, APT 6304 WARWICK, RI

DIRECTOR JASON TUCKER 212 SANDY LANE, APT 6304 WARWICK, RI

Atlas Enterprises Inc.

DIRECTOR ROBERT E FLAHERTY 936 BUTTONWOODS AVENUE WARWICK, RI - Former State Representative, served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

DIRECTOR PHILIP W GASBARRO 28 MATTITY ROAD NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI

DIRECTOR JOHN SHEPARD 106 SEA VIEW AVENUE NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI

Mother Earth Wellness, Ltd.

DIRECTOR JOSEPH M. PAKURIS 622 SHERMANTOWN ROAD SAUNDERSTOWN, RI

DIRECTOR EDWARD KEEGAN 25 GODDARD STREET BLACKSTONE, MA

DIRECTOR MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ 149 MISTY MEADOW LANE NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI

DIRECTOR AMANDA RODRIGUEZ 126 CLIFF DRIVE NARRAGANSETT, RI

DIRECTOR MARIA RODRIGUEZ 126 CLIFF DRIVE NARRAGANSETT, RI

Pakuris and Keegan are co-owners of Kitchen & Countertop Center of New England.

The Edward O. Hawkins Center, Inc.

DIRECTOR RHODA E. PERRY 21 DOUGLAS AVENUE PROVIDENCE, RI - Former RI State Senator

DIRECTOR JAMES DIOSSA 21 DOUGLAS AVENUE PROVIDENCE, RI - Sitting Central Falls Mayor, husband of State Senator

DIRECTOR DAMON RAY 21 DOUGLAS AVENUE PROVIDENCE, RI

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