{"id":1804,"date":"2021-10-16T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-16T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMimwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5qb3VybmFsaW5xdWlyZXIuY29tL2Nvbm5lY3RpY3V0X2FuZF9yZWdpb24vYnV5aW5nLWxlZ2FsLXBvdC1hLWd1aWRlLXRvLXdoZXJlLXlvdXItdG93bi1zdGFuZHMvYXJ0aWNsZV84ZjMyNzY4Yy0yZGFjLTExZWMtODk4Yi1kNzg5ZDM1ZjBlMjAuaHRtbNIBAA"},"modified":"2021-10-16T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T11:00:00","slug":"buying-legal-pot-a-guide-to-where-your-town-stands-journal-inquirer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1804","title":{"rendered":"Buying legal pot: A guide to where your town stands – Journal Inquirer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Enfield resident Elizabeth Davis was looking forward to the legal sale of recreational marijuana in her town.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She is out of luck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Enfield recently prohibited the sale of the newly legalized drug within its borders \u2014 but that isn\u2019t the case for some other towns in north-central Connecticut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Possession and use of cannabis for people age 21 and over has been legal in the state since July 1. However, as part of the law, each municipality has the ability to either allow cannabis retailers or prohibit sales through an ordinance. The cultivation and retail selling of cannabis products in the state is not expected to happen until late 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Massachusetts \u2014 where the drug was legalized in 2016 \u2014 establishments are often clean environments with electronic message boards and kiosks to browse through the various products, depending on customer needs, strength, or how it is consumed as in edibles, oils, plants, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe list of positives of having it sold in town are endless,\u201d said Davis, a former Enfield councilwoman who served in the Connecticut Army National Guard Active Reserve who laments that her town isn\u2019t embracing the selling of cannabis. \u201cThink of the revenue that goes to the town and think of all the different kinds of people who might rely on marijuana for illnesses or disabilities. We\u2019ll just go to another town and bring it back.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While Enfield has been the only town in the region thus far to officially ban sales, only officials from East Windsor and Andover have expressed the readiness to welcome cannabis retailers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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East Windsor First Selectman Jason E. Bowsza said his town has opted not to take the route of a moratorium, and instead the Planning and Zoning Commission has been developing regulations in anticipation of hosting cannabis retailers and cultivators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cEnfield\u2019s decision to put a ban in place creates opportunities for the town of East Windsor, and<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Selectmen, and town staff are working to make sure we have the appropriate policies and regulations in place so we can capitalize on the opportunity,\u201d Bowsza said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He added that the revenue implications cannot be overstated. He touted these facts: The recent legislation calls for a 3% municipal sales tax on cannabis products that will go to the town or city where the sale was made; the state will impose a 6.35% tax; and there will be a tax based on the amount of THC \u2014 the main psychoactive compound in marijuana \u2014 in the product being purchased.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThree percent of the growth sales is a considerable amount of revenue to the town and we continue to have conversations with various entities that are interested in starting a retail establishment here,\u201d Bowsza said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Davis said she\u2019d happily travel to East Windsor \u2014 a town that borders Enfield \u2014 to legally purchase marijuana. Davis uses cannabis for medicinal purposes, but is an advocate for allowing residents to use it recreationally if they choose.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2018A cost to this\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Enfield Mayor Michael Ludwick said that for his town, the 3% sales tax simply isn\u2019t enticing enough.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe way the state set up the (legislation), they\u2019re going to control the revenue and the towns get stuck with all the costs and the issues that come along with this,\u201d Ludwick said. \u201cThere\u2019s a cost to this \u2013 it\u2019s not just about the revenue – and there\u2019s a real cost to the local municipalities that we have to absorb that will far outweigh any revenue that we get.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Andover on July 12, according to minutes of its Board of Selectmen meeting, the panel discussed the positive economic development and increase in tax revenue cannabis establishments could bring to the town. The selectmen then signed a resolution supporting the implementation of the new recreational marijuana law in Andover.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Manchester, Gary Anderson, director of planning and economic development, said the PZC is open to moving forward with welcoming cannabis retailers. Toward that end, the town is preparing a text amendment to its zoning regulations that the commission will soon review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Manchester Mayor Jay Moran said the PZC and Board of Directors have had joint meetings to discuss the subject and will continue to have conversations after the upcoming election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Suffield First Selectman Melissa Mack said the town \u2014 much like East Windsor \u2014 opted not to approve a moratorium after a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission late last month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cGiven that there would only be one retailer and one micro-cultivator licensed under the current state regulations in Suffield, we are in support of retail sales subject to further consideration of where the establishment would be located within town,\u201d Mack said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She added, \u201cThis is a way to diversify Suffield\u2019s commercial tax base and an opportunity to benefit from sales taxes at the local level.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bill Hawkins, the town\u2019s director of planning and development, said Suffield’s PZC is in the process of drafting regulations for retailers and cultivators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In East Hartford, the PZC in August discussed regulations for cannabis-related businesses. It was followed by a public hearing on a proposed text amendment last month to define \u201ccannabis hybrid dealers\u201d and \u201ccannabis dealers\u201d as only being allowed in the I-2 industrial zone and a continued public hearing on Thursday, but no formal decisions have been made.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The right of refusal<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rep. Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, who served as the lead negotiator during the drafting of the cannabis legislation, said legislators adopted the measure with the intent to give local leaders the ability to make decisions for their respective municipalities in regard to allowing or banning pot sales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The majority of towns in north-central Connecticut, including Coventry, Ellington, Glastonbury, Hebron, South Windsor, and Windsor, have approved moratoriums on making decisions on whether to allow sales, each with various lengths.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moratoriums act as a way to give each town\u2019s respective planning and zoning commissions time to create or amend regulations for hosting cannabis businesses in their towns if officials choose to welcome retailers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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East Hartford, Manchester, Vernon, and Windsor are four of 35 towns in the state that have been given priority to receive business licenses for cannabis sales when they begin in 2022 due to being disproportionately affected areas based on unemployment rates and drug conviction rates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rojas said implementing the qualifications for certain towns to receive priority for licenses was a top concern for legislators during the drafting of the law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Windsor Mayor Don Trinks said he\u2019s undecided about whether he\u2019d like to see marijuana sales in town. Windsor approved a four-month moratorium in September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve got some reservations about it,\u201d Trinks said. \u201cI don\u2019t think we need anything else to impair our drivers, for one thing. But it\u2019s been made legal. The positives seemingly are that it would reduce illegal sales, there\u2019d be health regulations, and the town would see some sales tax from it. I\u2019m certainly willing to entertain discussions on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rojas said he doesn\u2019t understand the point of moratoriums. \u201cI don\u2019t know if some of it is a little bit of politics and posturing versus an actual policy need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bowsza also said he doesn\u2019t understand why so many moratoriums are being approved in the region. \u201cMoratoriums don\u2019t get you anywhere,\u201d Bowsza said. \u201cAll that does is push a pause button \u2014 and for what? You\u2019re pushing pause so you can get the regulations in place to facilitate it, and we think East Windsor can do that without having to have a moratorium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between siting a dispensary and siting a package store?\u201d he continued. \u201cI mean practically it\u2019s the same thing. You\u2019re not going to put one of these near a school, a church, or a day care \u2026 that\u2019s already in the regulations for package stores. All you\u2019re really talking about is some small tweaks here and there. It doesn\u2019t sound overly burdensome from a regulatory perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kaitlyn Krasselt, communications director for the state Department of Consumer Protection, said the department has 48 months to finalize and publish the regulations in order to begin accepting applications from businesses looking to commence cannabis sales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Discussions await<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Some towns have not tackled the matter. Somers Selectman Timothy R.E. Keeney, who\u2019s running unopposed for first selectman in the Nov. 2 election, said he believes his town \u2014 which has yet to discuss the matter \u2014 will likely not embrace approving marijuana sales. The Board of Selectmen will probably tackle the topic in late November, he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not sure why Somers would want to be a sponsor for marijuana sales,\u201d Keeney said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Tolland, PZC Chairman Robert \u201cAndy\u201d Powell said at a meeting last month not to expect any discussion in his town related to the cannabis legislation until after the election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Both Windsor Locks First Selectman J. Christopher Kervick and Jim Rupert, Bolton\u2019s interim administrative officer, echoed the sentiment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Vernon, Shaun Gately, economic development director, said the town has drafted cannabis language, definitions, and safeguards to the town\u2019s zoning regulations for its PZC to review at a meeting next month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In Stafford, a public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday on a proposed six-month moratorium on the matter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Per the legislation, until June 30, 2024, municipalities are only able to host one cannabis retailer and one micro-cultivator per every 25,000 residents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rojas said municipalities with a population under that threshold are only able to host one retail establishment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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East Hartford and Manchester all have a population over 50,000 and would be eligible to host two of each.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThere was concern by those of us who were negotiating the bill about having too much of a concentration of (marijuana) establishments in any one community, and we didn\u2019t want that to happen,\u201d Rojas said. \u201cBut we also knew there was going to be some communities who absolutely would prohibit the establishment of these and we want to be respectful of local decision-making and control, and that\u2019s what the bill allows for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Enfield resident Elizabeth Davis was looking forward to the legal sale of recreational marijuana in her town. She is out of luck. Enfield recently prohibited the sale of the newly legalized drug within its borders \u2014 but that isn\u2019t the case for some other towns in north-central Connecticut. Possession and use of cannabis for people age 21 and over has been legal in the state since July 1. However, as part of the law, each municipality has the ability to either allow cannabis retailers or prohibit sales through an ordinance. The cultivation and retail selling of cannabis products in the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/buying-legal-pot-a-guide-to-where-your-town-stands-journal-inquirer.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}