{"id":1670,"date":"2021-09-20T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CAIiENngD0pfpvwflQgw4QF41UsqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow8dv9CjDw5_UCMO_i1wU"},"modified":"2021-09-20T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T07:00:00","slug":"stratford-planners-to-talk-recreational-pot-rules-ctpost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1670","title":{"rendered":"Stratford planners to talk recreational pot rules – CTPost"},"content":{"rendered":"
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STRATFORD \u2014 Land use officials in town are discussing possible regulations to allow for recreational cannabis dispensaries.<\/p>\n

A \u201cgeneral discussion\u201d of the issue is on the agenda for the Planning Commission\u2019s meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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Sales of recreational marijuana won\u2019t begin anywhere in the state until at least next year, despite a law legalizing cannabis Gov. Ned Lamont signed<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, many municipalities are issuing bans or moratoriums<\/a> on the sale of the substance.<\/p>\n

Stratford has not yet taken a position on allowing recreational marijuana sales. In May the Zoning Commission unanimously approved a $20 million pot production facility<\/a> on Access Road \u2014 but for medicinal cannabis.<\/p>\n

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Zoning Commission members discussed the concept at a meeting last month before ultimately deferring to the Planning Commission for possible action.<\/p>\n

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Planning Commission Chairman Harold Watson said Monday he hadn\u2019t done too much research on the issue yet and couldn\u2019t say what direction Tuesday\u2019s discussion would go.<\/p>\n

The law gives towns a financial incentive to allow dispensaries in the form of a 3 percent municipal sales tax, though the cash comes with certain strings attached<\/a> on how it\u2019s spent. They can also charge dispensaries up to $50,000 for the first 30 days after opening to reimburse any added public safety costs, like needing cops to direct traffic.<\/p>\n

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The law also gives towns the option of banning cannabis use in public places \u2014 but with the caveat that those taking that step with populations of more than 50,000 have to designate a place where consumption is allowed. <\/a>\n<\/p>\n

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Towns are also required to have a referendum on allowing pot sales if at least 10 percent of voters \u2014 in Stratford, that would be roughly 3,500 registered voters \u2014 sign a petition at least 60 days before a general election.<\/p>\n

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More specific guidelines from the state about governing pot sales have yet to be published, noted Zoning Commission lawyer Patricia Sullivan at last month\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n