Montville ― Planning and zoning commissioners last week discussed multiple options for limiting the number of cannabis retailers in town, including mimicking the state law on liquor stores’ permits.

Last October, commissioners had voted to extend an existing moratorium on new cannabis establishments for another six months to give them time to draft permanent regulations on cannabis establishments. The moratorium expires April 30.

State law initially allowed towns with less than 25,000 people to have one retailer. That cap has now been lifted, and towns can decide how many retailers they will allow.

The town currently has one cannabis retailer, the Botanist, which switched from medical marijuana to hybrid sales in January 2023. Through November 2023, the Botanist generated $232,470 in tax revenue for the town, according to Finance Director Barbara Griffin.

At this month’s meeting, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Chuck Longton told his fellow members that he did not believe the commission has the authority to determine how many cannabis stores can set up in the town, but believed that there should be some limit.

“The free market will take care of the top number, I think that’s an accurate observation,” he said. “But by the same token, we need to decide what we think is proper for us as a town.”

Longton proposed the council adopt rules similar to the state’s rules on liquor stores to set a limit on the number of retail and hybrid cannabis stores.

“I would be in favor of requesting the town council to mimic the state law,” he said. “And then let the free market take it from there.”

According to state law, the Department of Consumer Protection can issue one package store permit for every 2,500 residents living in a town, as dictated by the most recently completed census.

The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau estimates there were 17,891 people living in town as of July 1, 2022, which means there can be seven liquor stores in town. All of those permits are currently in use, according to the state consumer protection department.

Commissioner John Poole said seven was more cannabis stores than he would be comfortable with. Longton responded by suggesting the town council adopt an ordinance based on that model, but with a different ratio.

In the end, the commission agreed to let Chairperson Sara Lundy and Assistant Town Planner Meredith Badalucca meet with the town council to discuss their thoughts on permanent regulations for the retail and hybrid facilities.

They will also meet with the Economic Development Commission, Lundy said.

At the meeting, the commission agreed to Lundy’s suggestion that it make no decision on retail and hybrid establishments at this time, instead waiting until either the town council or Economic Development Commission take a stance.

“Once that is worked out, the Planning and Zoning Commission can write the necessary zoning regulations,” she said.

If that does not occur by the time the moratorium expires, then it would extend the moratorium or implement a new moratorium, Lundy said.

The commission also discussed cannabis cultivators and micro-cultivators. Members agreed they would send applications for those establishments to the town’s Water Pollution Control Authority after commissioners raised concerns over the large amounts of water such facilities would use.

d.drainville@theday.com