Simsbury set to ban retail cannabis sales

If passed, ordinance would last 18 months and could be extended

The Simsbury board of selectmen is poised to pass an ordinance at its Feb. 13 meeting banning retail sales of cannabis in the town for 18 months.

At its meeting on Jan. 9, the board voted 4-2 to ban retail cannabis sales for 18 months. The ordinance would make the ban official for that period of time.

Voting in favor of the ban on Jan. 9 were board members Amber Abbuhl, Chris Peterson, Sean Askham and Heather Goetz. Voting against were First Selectwoman Wendy Mackstutis and Eric Wellman.

There will be public comment at the Feb. 13 meeting and some board members’ votes could change, but Mackstutis said she doesn’t anticipate that happening.

Mackstutis said the 18-month ban — which could be extended later — would stand unless the public demanded a referendum on retail sales.

“There was an attempt made last year before the November elections for a referendum, but they gave up because they didn’t have enough time to get the 1,800 signatures they’d need,” Mackstutis said.

The next possible date for a referendum is the municipal election on Nov. 7, she said.

“It’s really interesting how different towns have had different approaches. A lot of towns left it to their land-use boards. Lots of towns pressured the council to weigh in. But the top word is from the voters who want to petition. They have the final say,” Mackstutis

said.

The town hosts a 60,000-squarefoot cannabis cultivation facility where plants are grown, processed and various products are prepared for sale. The facility, on Hopmeadow Street in the Weatogue section of town, is run by Curaleaf. That business will not be affected by the ban.