Monroe to Have Its Say On Marijuana Dispensaries Oct. 24

Rod Deraney, a Newtown chiropractor, has considered having a growing facility for medicinal marijuana in an abandoned industrial building in Monroe on Commerce Drive, taking advantage of a new Connecticut law allowing growing facilities and dispensaries for cannabis.

Though Deraney's business, New Leaf Pharmaceutical LLC, decided to withdraw its application, P&Z Chairman Patrick O'Hara said the commission wants to make changes to the regulations for future applications — particularly dispensaries. 

"We're comfortable with how the regulations speak to a production facility, but uncomfortable with how they speak to a dispensary," O'Hara said.

For instance, O'Hara said liquor regulations don't allow a liquor store within 1,500 feet of a church or school. If Monroe decides to allow medicinal marijuana dispensaries, he said the regulations must decide where dispensaries could be located in town.

"We're reviewing the state regulations that came out the last few months to see, if we have a dispensary, how it would fit in with the desires of Monroe?" O'Hara said. "Do we even want it in Monroe? And if we do, under what conditions?"

A public hearing on regulations for Marijuana dispensaries will be held in the Town Council Chambers of Monroe Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24.

O'Hara said a moratorium could only be enacted with a public hearing and lifted when a regulation is enacted.

Town residents will have their say on Oct. 24.