{"id":2925,"date":"2021-12-06T22:08:52","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T22:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1pZGRsZXRvd25wcmVzcy5jb20vbWlkZGxlc2V4LWNvdW50eS9hcnRpY2xlL0Nyb213ZWxsLW9mZmljaWFscy10by1tdWxsLWFsbG93aW5nLWNhbm5hYmlzLTE2NjgwMjAzLnBocNIBAA"},"modified":"2021-12-06T22:08:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T22:08:52","slug":"cromwell-officials-to-mull-allowing-cannabis-sales-smoking-ban-middletown-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=2925","title":{"rendered":"Cromwell officials to mull allowing cannabis sales, smoking ban – Middletown Press"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CROMWELL \u2014 Municipal leaders are poised to discuss a possible yearlong moratorium <\/a>on the sale of cannabis in town to allow officials to research the issue in depth in order to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

Town Manager Anthony Salvatore is culling information and data related to the issue so he can present a recommendation at the meeting Wednesday night, he said. It\u2019s up to council members whether they\u2019ll take action that evening or consider the matter in future sessions.<\/p>\n

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In a recent Facebook post<\/a>, Councilman James Demetriades asked the public to submit opinions and other feedback on the proposal by Wednesday. He\u2019s also fielding opinions on the idea of prohibiting the smoking of marijuana and tobacco on public property.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf you don\u2019t do a moratorium … then planning and zoning will decide whether and where activity may be permissible under state law,\u201d Salvatore said.<\/p>\n

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Although the governor signed legislation making recreational cannabis use legal in Connecticut <\/a>in July, retail sales will likely will not be allowed until at least the end of 2022.<\/p>\n

If the council were to decide to allow marijuana sales, the zoning board would write up a land use regulation that would permit in what zone and what type of restrictions would be in place for businesses, Salvatore said.<\/p>\n

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Under the bill, a municipality must hold a referendum on whether to allow certain cannabis sales if at least 10 percent of its electors petition for such a vote at least 60 days before a regular election, according to state statute.<\/p>\n

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Existing law allows municipalities to regulate activities deemed harmful to public health, including smoking, on town-owned property. The bill broadens this to include property that a municipality controls but does not own, the provision reads.<\/p>\n

The board also will take up whether to ban the smoking and consumption of cannabis on public property, which is part of the statute.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a novel issue. This is a new one, and we want to get it right,\u201d Demetriades said. \u201cSince this is such a new discussion point, we want to gauge where members of the public are at.\u201d<\/p>\n