Businesses considering applying for new medical marijuana permits in Connecticut's largest city may have to wait a while.

Bridgeport's zoning commission wants to extend its one-year moratorium on medical marijuana business permits by another year.  They more time to decide where the city might allow medical marijuana farms and dispensaries. 

The commission wants to form a subcommittee to research how it's going in other towns.  The closest dispensary is located in the Stony Hill section of Bethel.

The first moratorium expired June 3. An extension is on the Bridgeport zoning commission's June 29 agenda.

The state Department of Consumer Protection is opening an application period for three additional licenses to run medical marijuana dispensary facilities in Connecticut.  There are currently six dispensaries in the state, including the one in Bethel run by D&B Wellness. 

There are 980 registered patients in Fairfield County, and more than 1,100 in New Haven County.  DCP Commissioner Jonathan Harris says there are a lot patients in the Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport corridor, but the closest dispensary currently is the one in Stony Hill.  Harris notes that that is not really convenient.