The Danbury Zoning Commission has extended a moratorium on cannabis related business in the City for another year, or until the Commission takes action on proposed regulations, whichever comes first.  A public hearing was held earlier this month on the draft ordinance allowing four types of marijuana businesses and bans seven others defined in state statute. 

The hearing will continue tomorrow via Zoom. 

The four under consideration would result in a 3 percent tax for the City.  The revenue can only be used for certain things such as streetscaping, youth employment, mental health and addiction services and services for people released by the Department of Corrections.  The proposed Danbury regulations would allow for two hybrid retailers that sell both medicinal marijuana and recreational cannabis to adults, or one medicinal marijuana dispensary, one recreational retailer, one hybrid retailer and one micro-cultivator. 

The City defines that in the draft plan as an indoor plant producer whose grow space is between 2,000- and 10,000-square-feet.  Planning Director Sharon Calitro says if the new marijuana businesses are successful, the City would have the opportunity to make amendments and loosen some things up. 

Calitro notes that the state law does allow, for the first 30 days, a charge of up to $50,000 in fees to defray the cost associated with what could happen when a business first opens, for example to hire extra police for security patrols or traffic control. 

Commission member Rob Melillo says he has several concerns with Connecticut allowing recreational sales and doesn't believe the City or state should be pressured into it because neighboring states are raking in revenue from something still considered illegal on the federal level.  He gave the example of not wanting to be like Los Angeles, which isn't prosecuting people until a certain dollar level is hit.  He also noted that there's a big controversy over something being legal in some states and illegal in others. 

Melillo was also concerned about opening the City's bank accounts to be seized or frozen for taking revenue as a result of a Scheduled I narcotic being sold.  City Attorney Dan Casagrande responded that he can't see the federal government, in this climate, suing commissions or state governments at this point in time.