Simsbury: No Toking Up On Town Property

SIMSBURY, CT — Days after voters shot down the prospect of allowing for legal cannabis sales in Simsbury, the town's highest governing body voted to ban its use of the legal product on town property.

The Simsbury Board of Selectman Nov. 13 voted 5-0 to approve a new ordinance banning the use of the now-legal substance on public property, including parks, trails, municipal sidewalks, playgrounds, and government buildings.

On Election Day Nov. 7, voters easily said "no" to Simsbury creating zoning regulations to allow for the legal, retail sale of recreational pot in town.

It was that decision by the local public that prompted selectmen to create the cannabis ban on public property.

"The reason we are here is because of cannabis and it's presented itself into our lives now," said Selectman Sean Askham.

Prior to the decision by selectmen at their first meeting following this month's elections, members heard public testimony at a public hearing on the topic.

Those speaking supported the cannabis ban and, even, wanted the new ordinance to also ban tobacco, vaping, and alcohol.

In fact, the ordinance originally proposed by selectmen included vaping and tobacco on the ban, along with cannabis. It did not include alcohol.

"Public property is owned by everyone in town and people who want to smoke and use these products should only be allowed to do so on their own property or in their car," said Simsbury resident Laurie Boyko.

The only public pushback came from David Bush, who is chairman of the Simsbury Parks and Recreation Commission.

He expressed concern that banning, say, tobacco at the Simsbury Farms Golf Course might prompt golfers who smoke to stay away.

And that, Bush said, could impact the golf course's ability to operate at a profit and generate revenue.

Bush sought an exception to any comprehensive ban, namely tobacco/vaping, for the golf course.

" If there is no exception to the ordinance an entire demographic will be less likely to use it and revenue will decrease," Bush said.

Ultimately and after much debate, selectmen opted to, simply, limit the ban to cannabis and they cut out all references to tobacco and nicotine (vaping).

Those issues could be revisited later.

Selectman Eric Wellman, for example, said the new ordinance should only apply to cannabis, claiming public smoking isn't much of a problem in town anyway as fewer peopld do it to begin with.

Simsbury Board of Selectman Deputy Chairman Amber Abbuhl, chairing the meeting for the absent Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis, said she supported a total ban.

"I'm concerned," she said. "There's a part of me that's concerned that if we just do cannabis we don't circle back to the rest of it."

Askham said the town could always come back and revisit adding smoking/vaping if it becomes a major problem in town.

Ultimately, the board compromised and tweaked the ordinance that night to only ban cannabis, for now and it will become effective next month.

For the minutes of the Nov. 13 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

For documents and drafts related to the ordinance, click on this link and scroll to Page 29.

From Nov. 8: 'Simsbury Marijuana Decision: Voters Say 'No'