Bethel takes steps to regulate medical marijuana in town

Angela D'Amico, left, and Karen Barski, both of Trumbull, manage Bethel's Compassionate Care Center of Connecticut on Garella Road. Angela D'Amico, left, and Karen Barski, both of Trumbull, manage Bethel's Compassionate Care Center of Connecticut on Garella Road. Photo: Brian A. Pounds Buy photo Photo: Brian A. Pounds Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Bethel takes steps to regulate medical marijuana in town 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

BETHEL -- Six months after Fairfield County's first and only state-approved medical marijuana dispensary opened in Bethel, officials are taking steps to control any potential expansion of the marijuana business in town.

The Planning and Zoning Commission this month approved a one-year moratorium on applications for new medical marijuana dispensaries, marijuana-growing centers, expansion of the existing facility and new recreational marijuana establishments.

"It's a moratorium just to give the commission time to develop some good regulations pertaining to the subject matter," Assistant Zoning Official Beth Cavagna said.

The unanimously approved moratorium was aimed at launching a discussion of what regulations the town should enact regarding medical marijuana facilities, and even recreational marijuana ones in case the state legalizes such businesses.

Chairwoman Patricia Rist said the commission would eventually seek to build the moratorium into zoning regulations.

"This makes the public more comfortable," she said. "We heard their concerns."

More Information Marijuana timeline

June 2011: Connecticut decriminalizes marijuana

May 2012: Connecticut approves law allowing the sale of medical marijuana

May 2014: Bethel town planner approves application by D&B Wellness to open medical marijuana facility on Garella Road

August 2014: State's first medical marijuana dispensary opens in South Windsor

September 2014: Compassionate Care Center of Connecticut opens in Bethel

Town Planner Steve Palmer said the commission included a potential expansion of the town's existing medical marijuana facility in the moratorium in response to neighbors who are concerned "it may morph into something bigger."

The Compassionate Care Center of Connecticut on Garella Road opened in September as one of six medical marijuana facilities in the state.

David Carter, one of three residents who spoke at the hearing, said this week it was a "relief" to learn the moratorium would prevent the dispensary from seeking an expansion. The Maple Row resident lives less than a mile from the center and is concerned the business might decrease property values in the area.

He said he supports the moratorium because the town should offer citizens a chance to vote on marijuana-related applications.

"Nowadays, I just feel like we hear one position," Carter said. "Unfortunately, we don't hear enough about the other side."

The center's co-owner, however, said her facility is rented and cannot expand its size anyway.

"We don't have that option. We can only expand our business within our business," Angela D'Amico said. "We're saving lives here. We're not worried about zoning."

The moratorium does not require the center to make any changes to its operations.

As for recreational marijuana, Palmer said the moratorium would protect the town from any changes in state law through March 2016.

Although no legislative hearings have occurred on the subject, at least two legislators in Hartford are pushing for legalizing recreational marijuana in Connecticut. State Rep. Juan Candelaria, D-New Haven, has proposed making the possession, sale, transportation, growth and use of set amounts of marijuana legal for adults. State Rep. Edwin Vargas, another New Haven Democrat, is seeking to decriminalize the use and possession of marijuana and to regulate and tax the sale of the product.

Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C., have legalized the use of recreational marijuana.

An opponent of such legislation, Carter said he's seen firsthand how recreational marijuana "can have a far-reaching negative impact on people's lives." He has worked for 30 years in the drug rehabilitation field.

"I'm not opposed to medical marijuana," Carter said. "My concern is that any broadening of marijuana legislation could send the wrong message and lead to an increase in recreational marijuana" usage.

Rist agreed.

"I think the state has to find another way to increase revenue without legalizing recreational marijuana," she said.

noliveira@newstimes.com, 203-731-3411, @olivnelson