Ansonia Approves Medical Marijuana Rules

Sixth Ward Ansonia Alderman Joshua Shuart speaks during a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting Oct. 29, 2018.

ANSONIA The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission Monday approved new regulations allowing medical marijuana facilities.

But that doesn’t mean patients will be lining up tomorrow to get pot prescriptions filled.

A 2012 state law allowed for the possibility of medicinal marijuana growing operations.

The commission enacted a moratorium on marijuana facilities in 2013 because the state had not yet spelled out rules for such facilities.

With those state regulations now in place, members of the commission reasoned it would be good to establish local rules for any such businesses.

The city has only ever received one inquiry regarding a medical marijuana facility, according to Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley — for a facility off Hershey Drive.

No one from the public spoke for or against allowing medical pot businesses at a public hearing this month.

But on Monday Joshua Shuart, who represents the Sixth Ward on the Board of Aldermen, presented the commission with a news report summarizing academic studies that found higher rates of property crime in communities with dispensaries in Colorado and California. Marijuana is now legal for recreational use in both of those states, but the studies began when it was only legal for medical use, Shuart said.

He said he wasn’t trying to shoot anything down,” but wanted to make the commission aware of the studies.

In an email after Monday’s meeting, Shuart said he was not speaking against the work of P&Z Commission.”

I think they have been proactive and thorough — and when I saw that article, I viewed it as a real-life case study that contained a lot of data (that might be of use to them),” Shuart said. I know the studied sites are not Ansonia, and I think the researchers may have overplayed the crime aspect a bit. My overall thought is that this is a relevant and timely topic, and P&Z appears to have a good plan and safeguards in place for the future.”

In discussing the regulations, the commissioners noted that in Connecticut only medical marijuana is legal.

If someone wants to open a grow operation or dispensary in Ansonia, they still have to apply for a special permit which would require a public hearing and their neighbors to be notified.

Chairman Jared Heon noted that even if recreational pot became legal in Connecticut, the commission would have to amend its regulations to allow for anything other than medical marijuana.

He also noted the police department didn’t raise any red flags about allowing medical marijuana production facilities and dispensaries.

In a non-scientific poll in an Aug. 15 Valley Indy story about the draft regulations, 65.81 percent of respondents supported allowing marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries in Ansonia.
I appreciate the study that Dr. Shuart talked about, but I think it’s more on legalized marijuana for recreational usage,” Heon said. I didn’t really receive any outcry on this one or major concern.”

Commissioner Timothy Holman said he did his own research on the issue which showed problems reflected in the studies cited by Shuart — but in states where recreational pot is legal.

In states that it’s legal, I can understand his point of view,” Holman said. I did do my search and I don’t see a problem with this at all.”

Maureen McCormack, another commission member, said a production facility could bring jobs and tax revenue to an area where they’re desperately needed.

An Oxycontin production facility, I might have a problem with that,” she said.

The Valley is stocked with old industrial properties that would seem tailor-made for grow operations.

Anyone looking to open up a pot business in Ansonia would need to apply for a special permit” from the commission, which would hold a public hearing on any proposal.

The regulations would allow production facilities and dispensaries in properties zoned heavy industrial and in commerce parks.

Production facilities would also be allowed in light industrial areas and special commercial” properties, but dispensaries would not.

The regulations, which are posted below, prohibit any pot dispensaries to be located within 300 feet of any properties with schools or churches on them.

Ansonia Medical Marijuana Regulations by The Valley Indy on Scribd

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