Finance Commission Public Hearing Prohibiting Cannabis in Simsbury

Zoning Commission Public Hearing on Regulating Cannabis Establishments in Simsbury December 5, 2022.

I am against increasing the distribution and sale of Cannabis/Marijuana in Simsbury.

David Murray from the Hudson Institute wrote, “The “Colorado Experiment”: Legalized Marijuana’s Impact in Colorado.”

Not only did the promised benefits, both financial and on behalf of public safety, not come to pass, but in multiple areas of daily life the metrics have worsened.

Moreover, the data from Colorado have been accompanied by several years of greater medical science awareness of the health risks from marijuana exposure. Easier access, greater prevalence, higher psychoactive potency from increased THC, a continued criminal element, and more intensive daily use has all occurred since the experiment began.”

Venture Capital is promoting the increase of sales in Cannabis/Marijuana.

Hartford Courant, “Connecticut’s Venture Capital fund is among the first institutional investors to jump into the growing cannabis business, committing $1.25 million to a manufacturer of edibles intended to enhance energy, focus and mental health.”

Curaleaf LLC. Located in Simsbury at 34 Hopmeadow Street, headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, Curaleaf has a presence in 21 states, and owns and operates 144 dispensaries and 29 cultivation sites with a focus on highly populated states including Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Millions of dollars in lobbying efforts by Venture Capitalists will corrupt the system.

According to the CDC, using marijuana can lead to numerous adverse effects. Marijuana can significantly affect an individual's cognitive abilities, leading to poor memory and decision-making, loss of coordination and difficulty learning. Impaired cognition can lead to participation in risky behavior and poor life choices that can have serious consequences. Marijuana leads to negative effects on major organs such as the heart and lungs as it causes rapid heart rates, increased blood pressure and lung tissue damage. The substance increases the risk for the development of heart disease and strokes. Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome is a condition of severe nausea and vomiting, following marijuana use, which can cause abdominal pain, dehydration, esophagus inflammation or perforation, poor nutrition and tooth breakdown.

Using recreational marijuana can also lead to psychological effects. The CDC describes a correlation between marijuana use and mental illness including depression and anxiety. There can be both short-term effects such as altered perception of reality and paranoid thoughts, or long-term complications. The most alarming finding of side effects is that suicidal thoughts and attempts have been related to marijuana use.

Marijuana is a mind-altering drug causing serious Mental Health issues that will cause pain and suffering for years to come.

Andrew Glassman, Chair of Pullman & Comley’s Cannabis, CBD and Hemp practice, spoke to Fox61 Morning News about new business opportunities and workplace policies on the first day of the legalization of recreational marijuana in Connecticut.

Andrew Glassman is the husband of Mary Glassman.

Lawyers and Venture Capitalists should not set the policies for Simsbury.

What is the position of the Board of Education, Police Department and Social Services on this issue?

I am asking the Zoning Commission not to “kick the can down the road.”

It’s all about courage to say NO to the sale and distribution of Cannabis/Marijuana as 12 other towns have done.

The Zoning Commission should follow the lead of the 12 Towns, including Avon, and include a ban on the sale of Cannabis/Marijuana in Simsbury.

The increased distribution, sale and use of Cannabis / Marijuana in Simsbury should be banned by the Zoning Commission.