Friday, June 10, 2011

Marijuana Zoning Text Change To Be Considered

The Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the City staff, remain concerned about what would happen in Middletown if medical marijuana became legal in Connecticut (a bill to this effect was proposed and voted on in committees, but it did NOT come up for a vote on the floor). The Commission at their Wednesday meeting voted to consider a proposed zoning code text amendment, and scheduled a public hearing on this for their June 22nd meeting.

The Commission last year considered a complete prohibition against the sale of medical marijuana in all zones. It also considered a lengthy and more detailed set of regulations. Both attempts to change the zoning code failed to muster a sufficient number of votes, as some members were opposed to an outright ban on selling a substance that might be legally prescribed in the future, and other members were opposed to anything which appeared to endorse the use of a substance considered "mood altering".

The regulation to be considered in 2 weeks is intended to tightly constrain the conditions and zones in which medical marijuana could be dispensed, should it be made legal in Connecticut:
Section 61.01.58 Sale or Dispensation of any form of marijuana and/or medical marijuana by a CT licensed pharmacist on the premises of a pharmacy licensed by the State of Connecticut - Connecticut Commission of Pharmacy provided the State of Connecticut legalizes said use.
ZONES TD, B-2, NPC

By extrapolation, marijuana dispensation would be prohibited in ALL other areas. The zoning map is readily available, here are the approximate areas where it would be permitted.
TD: Transition Development. Old Saybrook from the overpass over Rte 9 to the hospital.
B-2: General Business. Old Saybrook from Randolph to the overpass over Rte 9, parts of South Main, parts of Washington Street.
NPC: Newfield Planned Commercial. The northern half of Newfield Street.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Worried about endorsing the sale of "mood-altering" substances? Time to ban the sale of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, Italian ice, chocolate, candy, cotton candy, beer, wine, liquor, jewelry, handbags, pumps, lingerie, vacation packages...

Anonymous said...

The minds of those worried about the sale of Marijuana have been already been altered by society in ways that are nearly impossible to reverse.
One needs to understand that this plant, weed, timely medicinal, horticultural natural wonder was realized long before the government learned of it and then could not figure how to tax it.
Society is forced to live with the repercussions of alcohol abuse and its all because the government can TAX it.
Some of the most brilliant people you are surrounded by daily enjoy this evil thing we call Marijuana, the so called gateway drug.
I accept there are opinions of those who do not agree with me but I can assure you that there are also many that are so hypocritical to there feelings as they depart the local gin mill wasted out of their minds from several liquid lunches/dinners. Just try and get that wasted smoking that evil weed and see how long that buzz lasts....
The Native Americans were some of the most respectful and caring people to walk America, and they offered up the peace pipe as one of those values.
Wake up America the government is the most crooked and evil thing you will have to live with, not Marijuana......