No comments from public as New Canaan P&Z discusses moratorium on cannabis

NEW CANAAN — Though the Planning and Zoning commissioners said they wanted to hear public comments on Tuesday regarding cannabis regulations, members of the community did not jump at the opportunity.

The zoning commission held a public hearing that would have allowed for speakers to sound off both in person at Town Hall and on Zoom in a hybrid meeting. Not one person from the public spoke.

The commission agreed to continue discussion on the draft regulations at the next meeting, which would impose a 24-month prohibition of marijuana establishments. According to the drafted regulations, cannabis establishments include retail stores, cultivators, dispensary facilities, manufacturers, packagers and delivery services.

The town is allowed to opt out of approving cannabis businesses according to Senate Bill 1201, which legalized adult-use cannabis. It was signed by Gov. Ned Lamont in June and went into effect July 1 .

The local drafted regulation “still needs a little bit of work,” Chairman John Goodman said to his fellow commissioners.

Town Planner Lynn BrooksAvni explained that the state “hasn’t actually created the guidelines for how this program would function. Several municipalities have already taken steps to prohibit it, some of them temporarily.”

Commissioner James Basch asked why the commission would not approve an “indefinite prohibition,” of cannabis establishments.

Avni said the temporary prohibition gave the commission the ability to revisit its rules when the state “comes back with their guidelines.” Those guidelines are expected in the spring of 2022.

She said “the recommendation would be” that the town would instead prohibit this for 24 months, “with the assumption the state would have the guidelines in time and we would revisit this.”

The laws states that cannabis may only be sold by retailers licensed by the state, a program which has not been set up yet.

“We want to listen to the public,” Goodman said. “I think we as a commission are in sync on this.”

At a previous meeting, commissioner John Kriz raised public safety concerns.

The state law approved possession of cannabis for adults ages 21 and over, providing adults do not have more than 1.5 ounces on them and no more than five ounces in their homes or vehicles.

The law still prohibits cannabis use at state parks, state beaches and on state waters.