Marijuana Zoning Text Amendment Passes

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a change to our zoning ordinances, allowing the sale and dispensation of marijuana in restricted zones and under restrictive conditions, should its sale ever become legal in Connecticut.

Deputy Planner Michiel Wackers cited repeated efforts by the State Legislature to legalize the sale of medical marijuana. He explained to the Commission that if there were no restrictions on the sale of marijuana, and it became legal, it might be more difficult to enact zoning, because a property owner could claim that the city was taking away a right to use their property.

The text amendment restricts marijuana sales to three relatively small zones, and requires that sales can only be done by a licensed pharmacist operating in a licensed pharmacy. There are only 6 locations which fit those criteria, the Price Chopper, Walgreens, and CVS pharmacies on Washington Street, the Walgreens and Stop & Shop Pharmacies on East Main Street, and the CVS Pharmacy on Main Street Extension.

The Commissioners reprised the same views they had expressed on the two other occasions when they considered zoning regulations regarding marijuana sales. Ken McClellan strenuously objected to anything which would appear to endorse marijuana, "I'm concerned about Middletown going on record that there is a medical use for Marijuana."

Catherine Johnson called for more study, "I think we should debate this a lot more seriously than we usually do."

There was considerable discussion over whether there was a distinction between medical and non-medical marijuana. McClellan, Barbara Plum, and Les Adams refused to recognize a difference, each stating for the record, "Marijuana is marijuana."

No members of the public spoke at the public hearing, and the motion was passed unanimously.