West Hartford Town Council to Set Hearing on Marijuana Manufacturers and Dispensaries

The West Hartford Town Council is expected to spark up a debate on medical marijuana production facilities and dispensaries in October.

 Town Manager Ron Van Winkle said in a telephone interview Wednesday that the council at its meeting on Sept. 24 will set for public hearing an ordinance that declares a 9-month moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana production facilities and dispensaries.

Van Winkle said that no public comments will be taken, nor is the council expected to comment on the ordinance, at the upcoming meeting.

The state is expected to award a manufacturer the ability to produce medical marijuana and separately award a retailer to sell the product, Van Winkle said. That is not expected until November.

 Because the zoning ordinance is silent on the matter, marijuana could be produced in any manufacturing zone, and sold in any commercial zone. The moratorium would allow the council time to discuss and amend regulations as it sees fit.

Van Winkle did not offer an opinion on the matter, other than manufacturers and retailers should be discussed as they relate to the town’s current zoning regulations.

 “We want to pause this or we may want to decide we want [such retailers or manufacturers] a minimum distance from a school,” Van Winkle said.

 The moratorium would prevent any such manufacturer or retailer from opening in town for 9 months, Van Winkle said.