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05/02/2023 11:54 AMResidents finally had the opportunity to weigh in on the future of cannabis sales and cultivation in town, coming down on both sides of the issue, as the town moved forward by drafting an ordinance that the Board of Selectmen (BOS) can then vote on.
Many residents spoke in favor of cannabis use and retail sales, some with qualifications, such as the beneficiary of any taxes raised and proximity to schools. Those factors are mostly determined by aspects of the state law legalizing weed, which was approved in 2021.
Several residents spoke of how responsible cannabis use enhanced certain mental and physical aspects of their lives. However, the room appeared evenly split, with an equal number of residents set against
Resident Joan Walker spoke via Zoom at the hybrid meeting and said her biggest concern was how any potential tax revenue would be spent.
“If you do decide to allow a dispensary in town, that the tax revenue that we would be getting…be focused for education of our children and our adults, frankly on the positive/negative side effects of cannabis,” Walker said. “I think that we have, how many liquor stores in town? There are people who prefer to utilize cannabis rather than drink liquor. This is now legal in Connecticut, and I think to show proper use of cannabis as we do proper use of alcohol for adults is an example we should be setting for our children. My big thing would be that if this does move forward that the revenues focus as much into Madison Youth & Family Services in an educational program.”
Resident Tom Carpenter said he also felt the message sent by permitting retail sales was not a good look for the town.
“I grew up smoking pot for many years, and it is definitely not a good thing to have around town or to have around kids. For the town to be a portrait of ‘let’s smoke pot,’ to me, is not the kind of town that I want to associate with. That is why I oppose it,” said Carpenter.
At the following BOS meeting, the board discussed the potential direction for the town.
Selectmen Bruce Wilson and Scott Murphy cited the concerns of Youth & Family Service as an organization.
“I look at how our Youth and Family Services are concerned, with their consistent messaging that has not wavered at all,” said Wilson. “Again, we are not arguing the pros and cons of marijuana; we’re not debating whether or not it should be used in Madison. It is a legal recreational substance-full stop. So, what we are talking about is the commercial presence here in town. And our school district has consistently messaged the same. And I think that with this topic, it’s important that we take direction from those two groups. We devote a lot of energy and resources into seeking their opinion and trusting their stewardship of our community, and I don’t think this is the right time to step out of sync with them.”
Murphy concurred, saying that retail sales send the wrong message to Madison youth.
“I think that is a really important point…we have some experts in our community, and we rely on them for input and feedback,” said Murphy. “As the liaison to Madison Youth and Family Services, I hear the impacts on our children and youth all the time. So, we are not here to debate the impact on youth per se…but we know how the system works. It (cannabis) will become more accessible…but the thing I learned, which is something I hadn’t really thought about…is the potency issue is also another thing that is important to consider when thinking about retail. That is something we need to think about for sure.”
During the meeting, the board also posted the results of a survey conducted via the town’s website with more than 900 responses. The responses were overwhelmingly against retail sales; however, the age of the survey responders was skewed toward those over 55 years of age.
Other survey data indicated that nearly 58% of respondents do not want zoning changes that permit retail cannabis sales. Cultivation opposition broke down to roughly the same percentage at 55%.
Factors involved in retail sales revealed that respondents, regardless of age or approval/opposition, wanted assurance that if the town did permit sales, the tax money raised would go to prevention services and that minimizing cannabis access to children be a priority.
The board did not vote on enacting the ordinance at their May meeting but did make it clear the ordinance would be amended such that it would allow for the medical sales of cannabis in town. Current town zoning already permits medical cannabis facilities in Madison; the language barring that product will be struck from the draft of the ultimate law, according to First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons.