Public Hearing Set On Banning Cannabis Establishments In Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — A public hearing regarding a proposed ordinance which would prohibit cannabis establishments within the town of Enfield has been scheduled for Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall Council Chambers.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law a bill which legalized the recreational use of cannabis, effective July 1. The bill provides municipalities may, by ordinance, prohibit cannabis establishments, and the Enfield Town Council is proposing to enact such an ordinance.

The issue was raised at a June 21 council meeting. According to the meeting minutes, Town Attorney James Tallberg said, "If the town were to permit the sale of recreational marijuana, quite often when they open a facility such as this, there is a big expense, and a big rollout, so the law allows that the municipality could recover the first up to $50,000 in costs and they could tax the products up to 3 percent of the gross receipts, and the town would be limited in how it would use that money for seven different categories. The municipality would have to use that marijuana tax to fund things such as improvements to streetscapes, education programs for youth, and a variety of other categories. He noted this is something that the town will have to deal with, whether it is up to the citizenry to have a petition, or whether it goes through the land use process."

In establishing the date for the public hearing at the July 6 council meeting, the minutes reflect Councilor Kelly Hemmeler "stated she is against selling recreational marijuana in Enfield. She noted on the surface it looks like a lot of money on the table, but she believes the cost will outweigh any tax revenue. She stated they all need to ask themselves if they want Enfield to remain a community focused on education and a great place to raise a family, or do they want Enfield to become a destination to buy marijuana. She stated she wants to invest in families."

Councilor Gina Cekala stated, according to the minutes, "regardless of how she feels about whether or not to have an establishment, she is supporting the need and the desire for a public hearing. She noted before the public hearing, she would like some data from surrounding towns, Massachusetts, and surrounding states on what they have seen as benefits versus what they have seen as cons, whether it's increased traffic, crime, or whether it's decreased crime, or whether it's increased or decreased property values, what the revenue is to the town, and how many establishments do they really think will come to Enfield. She noted it has been legal up the road for quite some time, and she does not know that Enfield is necessarily going to get an influx. She stated she is not quite sure where she stands on this issue at this time, and that is why she wants to hear the public, and she wants to see some information, and she would like that information prior to this public hearing, so people can also see it. She stated her belief there will be a lot of hoops that these establishments will have to jump through in order to even be allowed to open. She stated she would like a layman’s presentation on this to show the pros and cons."

According to the minutes, Mayor Mike Ludwick "noted having the public hearing on September 7 provides time for everyone to read the bill. He stated this is also a public policy and it impacts the police as well. He noted there are a lot of things in that bill that affect the way they do business in Enfield. He encourages the public to read this bill as well, so they are informed. He stated his opinion this is not a good public policy bill."

The proposed ordinance may be read below.

TOWN OF ENFIELD

PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO THE ENFIELD TOWN CODE BANNING CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS

Prohibition on Cannabis [Marijuana] Establishments pursuant to Bill No. 1201, Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Act (RERAGA), section 148 (b).

All types of cannabis establishments, as defined in said Bill No. 4201, section 1(4), and as may otherwise be defined by Connecticut law or regulation, to include, without limitation, all cannabis establishments, producers, dispensary facilities, cultivators, micro-cultivators, retailers, hybrid retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, product packagers, delivery services or transporters, any other types of licensed cannabis-related businesses, or the conducting of any such activity for commercial purposes by whichever name used, are and shall be prohibited within the Town of Enfield.

This prohibition shall not be construed to affect the medical use of cannabis as expressly
authorized by Bill No. 1201, section 83, as the same may be amended from time to time.

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