SHELTON — Residents may soon see recreational cannabis sales in the city after an effort to prohibit such establishments went up in smoke.
“I don’t see how the community will benefit more from this than with other retail operations,” said commission Chair Virginia Harger, who joined fellow commissioners Charles Kelly and Ruth Parkins in voting to prohibit retail sales in the city.
Commissioners Jimmy Tickey, Elaine Matto and Peter Laskos voted against the recreational sales ban.
“While I respect all commissioners and their opinions, it would appear having an additional revenue source was more important and attractive than banning recreational cannabis sales,” Harger added.
She noted that in June 2014, she and two other current commissioners — Tickey and Parkins — were part of the six commissioners who voted unanimously to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities.
“Why ban one type and not the other? The inconsistency is troubling,” said Harger, who has been outspoken about her support for a ban throughout the city’s moratorium on retail sales.
In response to the state’s decision to legalize marijuana, the commission established the moratorium in April 2022. That moratorium, which was extended nearly a year ago, ends March 31, meaning the commission had to act.
“We don’t need this,” Mayor Mark Lauretti told Hearst Connecticut Media prior to Wednesday’s public hearing and vote. “We deal with manufacturing and job creation here. We do not need marijuana.”
Prior to its vote, the commission held a public hearing, at which only four people spoke, three for allowing the operations in the city, one against. That was Alderman Eric McPherson, who also spoke for fellow aldermen Cris Balamaci and John Anglace.
“We don’t need this,” said McPherson. “This does not benefit us.”
McPherson added that many neighboring communities, including Stratford, have already approved such operations, so interested Shelton residents need not travel far to purchase recreational cannabis.
The Stratford Zoning Commission earlier this month approved plans from Budr Cannabis, which operates stores in West Hartford and Danbury, to open a hybrid retail facility to sell recreational and medical marijuana in Oronoque Plaza, located on the Shelton border.
Those who spoke emphasized that such an establishment would offer an economic benefit to the city. According to state law, 3 percent of each sale goes to the municipality, with a portion of that required to be used for drug addiction or education services.
“The residents need to know this could serve as a source of revenue for the city,” said Steve Guralnick. “This should be treated like any other business. We should not discriminate against any business.”
Tickey said since the state legalized cannabis sales, it has become a strictly regulated industry.
By creating regulations allowing such establishments, the commission could even create stricter controls, such as regulating where such shops could be located in the city and hours of operation, he said.
All commissioners felt that the revenue to the city would be minor, and it could even take more of a hit as the state has reported a drop in cannabis sales each of the past two months.
The zoning regulations allow for zoning staff to decide if an application needs input from the commission before any approval.
H/T: sheltonherald.com
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