With an eye toward getting to a hearing before the Boston Cannabis Board (BCB) next month, the team behind a proposed adult-use cannabis dispensary at 538 River St. in Mattapan Square held its final community meeting on Sept. 21, earning equal amounts of excitement and concern for the shop, called “The POT” as co-founders Dru Ledbetter and Marquis Cohen touted their own roots in Mattapan.

Being a Black-owned business from a group already known to the community was seen as a major positive for the group. However, existing loitering and congestion problems at the site drew concerns from long-time residents and members of the Church of the Holy Spirit, which is located across the street.

After the meeting, Ledbetter said they believe the store’s opening would help make conditions better in the business district.

“It wasn’t hard to engage the community but really it was about finding out what the church’s biggest hang-ups were,” she said. “Besides the religious component, the biggest issue was the existing problem there with people lingering and loitering…We agreed to add an extra camera, and with our presence in a [onetime] vacant storefront, maybe that will deter the things that are going on.”

She added, “We hope we can be the one to drive that change and make (the liquor store) address its issues.”

The meeting was no slam dunk for the couple. Concerns from several church members were front and center, but they were buttressed by enthusiastic support from a younger crowd of Mattapan residents.

“I must say I am in opposition not to them, but of the location…It’s such a congested area where The POT would be located,” said Sheila Azores.
Many detailed the conditions where people drink, smoke, park and disrespect the church parking lot and property. They feel The POT would only make that worse, and they would like the situation addressed and resolved before the cannabis shop opens.

Rev. Zenetta Armstrong, of the church, said she is trying to work with Ledbetter, but she says, “I don’t think people are hearing the concerns. They are not against Dru but issues we’ve experienced before Dru came into the picture. It has nothing to do with The POT store, but I think the issues should be taken seriously.”

On the flip side, many at the online meeting were enthusiastic in their support of The POT.

“We don’t have any problem with toddlers at ABCD or teens at the bus stop going over to the liquor store and they have less security,” said Yionel Jean. “Let’s be a little more realistic, even though it’s reasonable, and maybe a little less emotional.”

Said Farah Benoit: “This is a Black-owned company, and we need more Black-owned businesses in the community…Our biggest critic is ourselves as a Black community. We should support her without the buts, the ands, and the dot, dot, dots.”

Elected officials have yet to sound off on the proposal, but State Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley said she encouraged everyone to voice their opinions.

“I appreciate that Ms. Ledbetter appears to be taking the community feedback process seriously, and that this is a proposal from a Black-owned business,” she wrote in a statement. “I want to encourage anyone who lives near the area to express their opinions about the proposal to the owners and the City’s Office of Neighborhood Services.”

After the meeting, Ledbetter said she is frustrated that the church is carrying so much weight in the discussion as “only 10 percent of the church are Mattapan residents,” but said she would continue meeting with them.

The group previously proposed a shop at 1187 Blue Hill Ave. next to Morningstar Baptist Church. Ledbetter said they had a good relationship with that church, and it took a non-opposition stance. BCB approved it in Oct. 2021, and they received a Host Community Agreement in November 2021.

They were to have a hearing at the Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 22, but a sudden change by their landlord threw a wrench in the process that could not be resolved.

The proposal at 558 River St. was a result of members of the community and Mattapan Main Streets helping them to find a spot in the fallout. Another cannabis operation, Pure Oasis, attempted to locate at 558 River St., but abandoned the attempt.

Ledbetter and Cohen expect to have a date in front of the BCB in October.