{"id":2113,"date":"2021-11-01T10:03:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T10:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CAIiEJ6A267jn3M2EoI6pPbI6C4qGQgEKhAIACoHCAownuf9CjC99vUCMM-72gU"},"modified":"2021-11-01T10:03:41","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T10:03:41","slug":"orange-residents-will-have-chance-to-weigh-in-on-recreational-cannabis-sales-new-haven-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=2113","title":{"rendered":"Orange residents will have chance to weigh in on recreational cannabis sales – New Haven Register"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ORANGE \u2014 Residents will have a chance this week to weigh in on how \u2014 or whether \u2014 cannabis is sold in town.<\/p>\n

Residents will have the opportunity Wednesday to weigh-in on three options regarding the sale of cannabis in town: whether to regulate, prohibit or impose a moratorium.<\/p>\n

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Members of the Town Plan and Zoning Commission in meeting discussions have stressed they want to hear the opinions of residents on which direction to take, as they, along with other communities grapple with decisions brought about by the legalization of recreational marijuana.<\/p>\n

There are three options for folks to consider: regulate, prohibit or impose a moratorium.<\/p>\n

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Three public hearings \u2014 one on each option \u2014 will be held Wednesday, Nov. 3, beginning at 7 p.m. in the lower level of Town Hall. An agenda is available on the town website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Board of Selectmen recently banned smoking marijuana, as well as tobacco, and vaping on town-owned property.<\/p>\n

Zoning officials are debating whether to allow retail sale of cannabis in town, which would be regulated by the state through licensing. Under the new laws in Connecticut, the number of licensed retail cannabis stores is determined by the population and, for Orange, that means one retail site. .<\/p>\n

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Planners have more time than first thought because the state likely won\u2019t issue licenses for retail sales until next year.<\/p>\n

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When the TPZC at a meeting last month started a conversation on the issue of retail marijuana sales, they admittedly went into it leaning toward a prohibition.<\/p>\n

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But that quickly evolved and by the end of the meeting they were talking about creating regulations for the retail sale of marijuana \u2014 with resident input \u2014 that might include signage and rules concerning proximity to certain establishments, such as schools and houses of worship.<\/p>\n

Later, the idea of a moratorium was considered, with the idea of revisiting the issue after sales in the state were underway.<\/p>\n

Planners also technically have the option of doing nothing, but have ruled that out.<\/p>\n