Monroe-based D&B Wellness Compassion and Care Center gained approval in May as one of only six medical marijuana dispensaries licensed in the state.  Only patients certified by physicians to the state Department of Consumer Protection as having one of 11 debilitating conditions, and would benefit from use of medical marijuana, can register for use in Connecticut. 

In order to enter the Garella Road center, patients must have a medical marijuana card.  To make a purchase, the patient's name has to be registered with the state, and the Bethel facility as their designated dispensary.

The "appointment only" facility will have a high level of security including a full time security guard, video surveillance and other security features.  The center will employ a pharmacist, receptionist and a counselor to educate patients about dosage and alternative therapies.  The strict security requirements are detailed among 76 pages of state regulations.

The kinds of products that can be sold at dispensaries are very specific and limited to those prepackaged from licensed manufacturers.  Everything comes in a sealed pouch, with the strain and number tracked back to the state.  It's meant to treat tremors, Parkinsons, MS and epilepsy.  

An open house is being held tonight from 6pm to 9 pm for patients registered to the facility.  Department of Consumer Protection officials and others instrumental with helping the application go forward, will also be in attendance.

Two residents, Philip Lombino and Michael Moore, filed an appeal of the Zoning Enforcement Officer approval of a zoning permit application.  The Bethel Zoning Board of Appeals ruled on the appeal of the dispensary last month.  The Board decided that the filers were not aggrieved, and that the use of the site meets regulations. 

The location is zoned for retail use and town officials say the dispensary is considered a pharmacy and therefore a permitted use.  The appeal said the state imposes specific location and operation criteria on dispensaries that are different from retail mandates, because the general public will not be patronizing the facility. 

A letter has been drafted to the Planning and Zoning Commission requesting that they review the appeal and make changes to regulations.  In the future something like this could trigger the use of a special permit.  That will insure an opportunity for public discussion on the matter.