NEW FAIRFIELD — With the recent legalization of recreational adult-use of marijuana in Connecticut, local zoning officials are trying to figure out what to do about retail cannabis in town.
“We could put a moratorium on it and not deal with it for a period of time, we could do nothing … or we could say in our zoning regulations that we allow (or don’t allow) dispensaries in our town,” said John Moran, chairman of the Zoning Commission, which opened a public hearing on the issue Wednesday.
Municipalities across the state are deciding whether to allow retail cannabis businesses within their borders after the new law went into effect in July.
The law allows people 21 and older to have 1.5 ounces of marijuana with them, up to five more ounces of marijuana in a secure location like their home or car, and for patients in Connecticut’s medical marijuana program to have three mature marijuana plants and three smaller plants in their home — a provision extending to the general adult public in 2023.
It also allows for the opening of retail cannabis businesses — but only at the discretion of municipalities.
Some area towns have decided to prohibit cannabis enterprises looking to do business within their borders, while others like Danbury have imposed temporary bans.
No decision has been made in New Fairfield.
During the first public hearing, three residents shared their thoughts, with two arguing against retail cannabis.
Resident Peter Lofaro asked the commission to consider measures like those enacted in Newtown, which became the first town in the area to prohibit cannabis establishments back in July.
“My sincere hope is that we maintain the integrity of our town,” he said.
Lofaro said he worries that cannabis businesses could negatively affect property values in New Fairfield and that their presence could send the wrong message to families looking to move to town.
“My biggest concern is the impact that businesses like this would have on our youth and our community, which is really the bedrock of New Fairfield,” he said.
Ball Pond Road resident Colleen Cox said she is “vehemently against” retail cannabis businesses in town and agrees with Lofaro.
“It’s about preserving the integrity of our community and our children,” she said, citing concerns about marijuana being “a gateway drug.”
Although more research is needed to understand if marijuana use leads to the use of more dangerous drugs like cocaine or heroin,“the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, ‘harder’ substances,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New Fairfield resident Jacob Krayn said he believes retail cannabis would benefit the town, rather than cause problems.
“People who believe their children are unable to purchase marijuana because there are no legal dispensaries are highly mistaken,” he said. “I think it’s fairly easy for youth in the area to purchase marijuana.”
Krayn said allowing cannabis retailers to do business in town could also help boost New Fairfield’s economy.
“The town could certainly use additional tax revenue,” he said. “Our taxes go up every year, in part because our downtown is not necessarily as thriving as it could be. A business that generates some revenue could be good for the town overall.”
Moran noted that “the town would get 3 percent of every sale” if a cannabis business were to open in New Fairfield.
Under the law, municipalities may also, up to 30 days after the opening of a cannabis business, charge the owner up to $50,000 “for any necessary and reasonable costs incurred by the municipality for provision of public safety services in relation to such opening.”
In hopes of getting more feedback from residents, the New Fairfield Zoning Commission continued its public hearing to Oct. 6.
Moran said there will be “many more meetings” on the matter, and the commission plans to make a final decision by the end of the year.