Pubdate: Sat, 24 Nov 2012
Source: Register Citizen (CT)
Copyright: 2012 Register Citizen
Contact:  http://www.registercitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/598
Author: Jacqueline Bennett

SIMSBURY ZONING COMMISSION MULLS LOCAL REGULATIONS FOR MEDICAL 
MARIJUANA WHILE COMPLYING WITH NEW STATE LAWS

SIMSBURY) The Simsbury Zoning Commission sought public feedback at 
its Nov. 19 on how to proceed with local regulations for recently 
state-approved medical marijuana. Though not federally approved, 
Connecticut became one of several states to pass such laws, which 
took effect Oct. 1. It approves use of marijuana for some medical 
uses, such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and 
Parkinson's disease.

"We're not trying to challenge the spirit of the law," said 
Commission Chairman Robert Pomeroy Jr. during the Nov. 19 meeting at 
town hall. "The state has approved this to make it available, so we 
don't want to be obstructionist."

Nonetheless, Pomeroy said the commission wants to avoid what he says 
occurred in California, and instead make it clear that not just 
anyone can distribute medical marijuana in Simsbury.

"Not like California, where the law passed and everyone was a 
pharmacist," said Pomeroy.

Patients are required to have a doctor's authorization to use medical 
marijuana, it was noted.

Pomeroy said because medical marijuana use has not been approved by 
federal law, in states where it is approved it must be produced and 
sold within state borders.

The commission plans to hold a future hearing on the matter. 
According to Town Planner Hiram Peck, by July the state has to have 
rules for use drafted. Thus, he advised that it would be wise before 
then for the town to set up its own local regulations.

In addition to regulating where and who can dispense it locally, the 
commissioners expect to mull the possibility of Simsbury becoming one 
of ten designated medical marijuana grower locations in the state. 
That possibility was raised by the only member of the public who 
spoke among the three who turned out for the discussion.

"There's lots of farmland in Simsbury," said Charles Wolfe.

Pomeroy acknowledged that because of the extensive, rich, farmland in 
town, patients beyond those in Simsbury potentially stand to benefit 
from the new law. The state's approval of medical marijuana use 
followed Connecticut's decriminalization of the use of small amounts 
of marijuana for recreation in 2011.

Commission members said some well-known area tobacco growers may be 
interested in expanding to grow the medical marijuana.

It is unclear, if the town does not establish a defined permitted use 
for growing marijuana, if that would mean it could not be grown in 
town, or if that would mean the town would not have control over the 
growing, according to Peck. He said he will seek further information 
on that question from the town attorney.

The new state law requires that anyone who wants to sell or use 
medical marijuana to get state approval and then register with the 
state. However, Peck noted towns such as Torrington, Middletown and 
Canton have already established their own regulations.

"Canton beat us to it," said Peck.

In September, Canton's Zoning Commission adopted regulations 
stipulating that in Canton, medical marijuana can only be sold within 
a pharmacy and would require a special exception application. Peck 
and commission members said Canton is considering regulations to 
limit growing medical marijuana to indoors, in the town's industrial zones.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom