Divided Public, Divided Board As Simsbury OK's Pot Moratorium

SIMSBURY, CT — With divided residents commenting on the future of legal recreational pot sales in town, a divided Simsbury Board of Selectmen Monday night voted to extend a ban on retail marijuana establishments.

And, after 18 months, if no formal petition to a referendum is created or no decision is made by the town's zoning board, such establishments would, then, be legal locally.

Selectmen voted 4-2 to extend a moratrium on retail pot sites in Simsbury, meaning no recreational marijuana is allowed to be sold in town through the late summer of 2024.

Voting in favor of the moratorium were Democrat Amber Lane Abbuhl, Democrat Chris Peterson, Republican Sean P. Askham and Republican Heather Goetz.

The two dissenters opposed to extending the moratorium were Democratic Simsbury First Selectman Wendy G. Mackstutis and Democrat Eric Sean Wellman.

The ordinance is called "An Ordinance Prohibiting Cannabis Retail Establishments" and it would temporarily prohibit the retail sale of cannabis for the next year and a half.

Like many communities, Simsbury is trying to figure out if it wants to ban retail pot sales, which are now legal in Connecticut, permanently or eventually allow them.

Some towns are embracing the idea along economic development lines, while others are concerned about negative impacts associated with having folks buying pot in town.

Some supporters of the moratorium said this should give the Simsbury Zoning Commission time to draft regulations about legal recreation pot sales in town, a main reason for their support.

"I would hope that zoning would continue to look at this issue," Askham said. "Right now, there are no regulations in place and that's unfortunate, because I think zoning has had two years to draft those regulations."

He said selectmen are not postponing a vote on legal retail pot in town until after elections, as some critics alleged during the public hearing Monday.

Rather, they're providing future boards with more time to better manage the issue, Askham said.

"I just want to state for the record we are not ducking responsibility. We are affirming for this term that this will be the prohibition and ... future boards can take that issue up," Askham said.

Abbuhl said the 18-month pause gives the state legislature time to fine-tune laws regarding legal recreational pot, such as clearer definitions and standards.

"18 months can get us a much better understanding of what some of these regulations are going to be," Abbuhl said. "I think that is an important consideration to make. The issues pending in these bills are significant."

Prior to the Monday night selectmen decision, Simsbury residents paraded in front of the board, offering testimony for and against the measure.

Whitcomb Drive resident Joan Coe accused selectmen of passing the cannibis hot potato past the November municipal elections so their vote on the matter doesn't hurt them at the ballot box.

She said, essentially, special interests looking to make money off recreation pot sales support the measure and residents oppose it, adding town leaders have plenty of information to make a final decision.

"Delaying a vote under the guise of not having any information is just another way of delaying a vote until after the municipal election, where the board of selectmen wouldn't be held accountable for their votes," Coe said.

Marc Warren, of Oakwood Road, Simsbury, said he opposes the moratorium.

"I can't think of one good reason why we would prohibit having retail cannibis stores in town, even temporarily," Warren said. "It's a legal product. It's highly regulated. And it absolutely will be a revenue generator for the town."

Warren said educational programs could benefit from added tax revenue from pot establishments.

Barry Kline of Bob White Way in Weatogue said he has a problem with the fact that, once the moratorium expires, if no further action takes place, then rec pot sales are now legal in town.

He claims if someone wants to change something in Simsbury, namely legalize pot facilities in town, the burden should be on them.

"My concern about the referendum before us is the 18-month sunset provision. In 18 months, if action isn't taken, it will expire and my understanding is cannabis sales would become legal at that point," Kline said.

Goetz, the Republican councilperson, said if she had her way, retail pot locations would be banned in Simsbury, but the moratorium provides time for a decision, once and for all, to be put before voters.

"I'm actually in favor of a full ban. I don't think this is a good thing for Simsbury. I do not think this is good for the character. I do not think it sets a good example for our children," Goetz said.

"Agreeing to the 18 months does allow residents to bring something forward and it allowed us, as a group, get to a place to make it a policy issue."

Copies of the ordinance can be found on the Town of Simsbury’s website, www.simsbury-ct.gov on the Board of Selectmen’s page. Hard copies are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, 933 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT.

From Feb. 24: 'Simsbury Selectmen To Host Hearing On Retail Pot Ban'