{"id":5107,"date":"2022-03-25T14:55:19","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T14:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXJpZGdlZmllbGRwcmVzcy5jb20vbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlL1JpZGdlZmllbGQtY291bGQtcHV0LXJldGFpbC1wb3Qtb24tdGhlLWJhbGxvdC0xNzAyODQ1MC5waHDSAQA"},"modified":"2022-03-25T14:55:19","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T14:55:19","slug":"ridgefield-could-put-retail-pot-on-the-ballot-but-so-far-residents-havent-weighed-in-on-the-issue-the-ridgefield-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=5107","title":{"rendered":"Ridgefield could put retail pot on the ballot. But so far, residents haven’t weighed in on the issue – The Ridgefield Press"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RIDGEFIELD \u2014 Officials are gauging residents\u2019 interest on retail cannabis through a series of public hearings, although attendance has been slim so far.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the hearings is to hear people\u2019s thoughts, opinions and concerns about whether or not Ridgefield should permit the sale of cannabis locally as the town considers whether to hold a referendum on the issue. Four people attended the first hearing, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said.<\/p>\n

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Recreational marijuana was legalized at the state level last summer. Since then, towns like Ridgefield have passed temporary restrictions on cannabis establishments as they figure out how \u2014 and how many \u2014 retailers, distributors, growers and more would be allowed to do business in their municipalities.<\/p>\n

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In September, Ridgefield\u2019s Planning and Zoning Commission passed a one-year moratorium<\/a>, which covers 11 different types of business uses relating to recreational cannabis, including producers, cultivators, retailers, manufacturers, delivery services and transporters.<\/p>\n

The moratorium put the town on pause from entertaining applications for these kinds of businesses to give residents time to scrutinize the issue.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTo that end, (the Planning and Zoning Commission) referred the matter \u2026 to the Board of Selectmen to decide the policy relative to cannabis,\u201d Marconi said. \u201cA. Do we want a recreational cannabis dispensary? Or B. Do we not want it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Officials wanted community input in order to make that determination, hence the public hearings. Two more sessions will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26 and Saturday, April 2 in the lower level conference room of Town Hall. Those wishing to attend are asked to enter from the side entrance on Bailey Avenue.<\/p>\n

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In an email to Hearst Connecticut Media, the Economic & Community Development Commission encouraged residents to attend in the hopes that a question pertaining to retail cannabis in Ridgefield would go to a town-wide referendum.<\/p>\n

Marconi has asked the town clerk to research the possibility of adding such a question to the budget referendum in May. He wondered, however, if it would even be worth including given people\u2019s apathy thus far.<\/p>\n

Selectman Sean Connelly believes the hearings will help the board make that determination. The selectmen are charged with approving the questions asked on the ballot at referendum per the town charter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need lots of community input to make the decision, and I don\u2019t feel we fully have that now,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve had discussions and talks with people who feel passionately that it should go on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an email to Hearst Connecticut Media, Selectwoman Barbara Manners said she would like to see the question asked during the budget referendum or a municipal election \u201cwhen \u2026 more of the electorate comes out to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n