Stonington Borough waiting to see what town does on marijuana sales
Stonington — Imagine strolling down Water Street in the borough, buying marijuana in a shop and then smoking it on Wadawanuck Square.
It's possible under a new state law that went into effect in July legalizing cannabis use, and eventually production and sales.
Municipalities with less than 25,000 residents can allow one retailer and one grower if they wish. However, a recreational seller cannot open unil May 2022, as the state needs to develop specific regulations and licenses have to be awarded.
The law means that both the town and borough, which is a separate municipality, can each have a retailer and a grower.
A referendum has been scheduled for Oct. 5 for residents to vote on whether the town should prohibit a cannabis business to open here. Some towns, such as Greenwich and Newtown, have already banned sales, while locally Preston has implemented a six-month moratorium so officials can study the law and adjust zoning regulations.
Borough Warden Jeff Callahan said this week the borough is waiting to see the outcome of the town vote.
"If the town says no, do I want to have the only pot shop in town?" he asked, adding the Planning and Zoning Commission would also have to be involved.
A cannabis retailer in Stonington is expected to not only be a lucrative operation but also generate traffic as it would be the closest retailer to Rhode Island, were marijuana sales are not allowed. A location in Pawcatuck or Mystic also would have easy access off Interstate 95.
The law also allows municipalities to regulate whether smoking of cannabis products is allowed in public. Some larger cities are establishing areas where residents can smoke cannabis in public. On Monday, the Board of Warden and Burgesses began discussing cannabis use on public property.
On that question, Callahan said it seems reasonable to him to restrict cannabis use on public property, much the same as it does with alcohol, which is prohibited on borough property. But he said the board will discuss the issue at upcoming meetings.
He added that he doesn't want to hide in the bushes and then jump out to catch people smoking marijuana but he also does not want "Woodstock on Wadwanauck Square."
First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said this week that the town has not yet discussed whether it will allow cannabis use on town property.
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