Within a year, Mansfield may be a destination for those seeking to purchase medical marijuana. In a 4-to-1 vote, selectmen approved sending state regulators a letter of support on behalf of CommCan Inc. of Millis’s proposal to build a dispensary on West Street next to the Cabot Business Park.

“This would be strictly a distribution facility,’’ said Town Manager William R. Ross. Ross said the town will begin working soon with company attorneys on a host community agreement, which could net the town an initial compensation of $100,000, and 3 percent of gross sales in the long run. It will also need one or more variances regarding the dimensions of the lot and will need a special permit, Ross said.

He said Fire Chief Neal A. Boldrighini toured a similar dispensary in Brockton and testified before the Board of Selectmen April 20 that it was an “extremely secure facility.’’

He found it to be “much more secure than a typical pharmacy, and the clients seemed to be those with serious illnesses,’’ Ross said.

Valerio Romano, an attorney for CommCan, said the company is also working to open dispensaries in Southborough and Millis, which, along with the Mansfield site, would be tied to a growing facility in Medway.

Romano said the Mansfield site would serve about 800 to 1,500 unique patients a year, although, he said, estimates are difficult at a time when so many proposals are still up in the air. An optimistic estimate for opening would be next spring, he said.

Mansfield officials “did their due diligence on the project,’’ Romano said. “There is a strong need for this valuable medicine.’’

Elaine cushman Carroll can be reached at elaine_carroll@msn.com.