Spiritual leaders opposed to cannabis dispensary site

These issues could easily be eliminated by simply requiring the dispensary to locate elsewhere.

To the editor,

As spiritual leaders of congregations in Stamford and southwestern Connecticut, we care deeply not just for the lives of our own members but for the well-being, flourishing and common good of all our neighbors, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or socially. We are proud to partner with the immigrant integration work that Building One Community (B1C) performs in Stamford and the surrounding region. B1C provides vital care for the aforementioned needs of so many within our community.

Thus, we were concerned when we learned of the proposed cannabis dispensary that seeks to open in the same building as B1C’s Shippan location (John Breunig column, March 17). As cannabis is legal in Connecticut, we do not deny the right of the proprietor to open a dispensary. However, we believe that this dispensary will have a detrimental impact on B1C’s program and clients.

Children of all ages utilizing the facility daily for ESL, homework, and other programming would be in immediate proximity to the dispensary. We do not allow for dispensaries to be near our schools, and the work that B1C does with children should be considered in this light.

These issues could easily be eliminated by simply requiring the dispensary to locate elsewhere. We urge the Zoning Board to reject the current location of the proposed dispensary for the physical, emotional and social well-being of a vulnerable group in our community, the children and immigrants served by Building One Community.

The Rev. Shelley Donaldson, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

The Rev. Mark Lingle, St. Francis Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. Harry Pappas, presiding priest, Archangels Greek Orthodox Church

Dale Pauls, minister emeritus, Stamford Church of Christ

The Rev. David R. Piscatelli, First United Methodist Church

The Rev. Mary Marple Thies, Parish Associate, First Presbyterian Church, New Canaan

The Rev. Dr. David R. Van Dyke, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford