Simsbury's Marijuana Vote: What You Need To Know

SIMSBURY, CT — Amid board, commission and first selectman races before voters Tuesday, Nov. 7, is another major question dominating town affairs in recent months — recreational pot.

While many towns in Connecticut have responded to the state's recent legalization of recreational marijuana with open arms in the quest to expand local tax revenue, others are still undecided.

One of those is Simsbury, which is, essentially, leaving the issue up to the voters.

As a result, the actual question that will appear on Tuesday's ballot is simple: "Shall the sale of recreational marijuana be allowed in the Town of Simsbury?"

That's because while the state does legalize rec pot, it does not mandate the allowance of such in a town or city. That's up to them to decide.

And while the question seems simple, the route Simsbury has taken to this decision has not.

Last February, selectmen voted to extend a moratorium on retail pot stores, which were legalized by the state at the start of the year, into 2024.

The goal was to buy more time for the town to figure out what it wanted to do.

At issue is if Simsbury wants the added tax revenue and business development associated with a now-legal, product or is Simsbury wary of the implications easy access to pot could pose on members of the community.

Last winter, the topic of pot stores in Simsbury divided the public with many testifying at public hearings for both sides of the equation.

Over the summer, Simsbury resident Tom Turner petitioned selectmen to put the measure on the ballot, a petition that was ratified and, on July 10, selectmen voted to put it up to the voters.

For the full, Town of Simsbury election ballot, including the pot question, click on this link.

From July 12: 'Simsbury's Pot Store Question Will Be Decided At The Polls'

From Feb. 28: 'Amid Division, Simsbury Selectmen OK Retail Pot Moratorium'

From Jan. 23: 'Let Voters Decide Pot Issue In Simsbury: Local Leaders'

From Oct. 26, 2022: 'Simsbury Planning Pot Discussions In November'