Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
CT - Pharmacists are now allowed to sell marijuana in Middletown, but only if and when the state legalizes the drug for medicinal use.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously passed a zoning amendment Wednesday that permits the sale of "marijuana or medical marijuana" if the state legalizes its use, but only by licensed pharmacists at a pharmacy in certain zones of the city.
Deputy Director of Planning, Conservation and Development Michiel Wackers explained that only licensed pharmacists with doctoral degrees could dispense marijuana, and only at pharmacies in certain zones of the city. The zones were focused along Washington, Newfield and South Main streets, away from the city core.
Before the vote, the item was open for a public hearing, but no residents stepped forward to comment. Commissioners considered adding several changes to the regulation, but ultimately decided to pass it as written.
Carl Bolz proposed adding language that would allow Middlesex Hospital to dispense marijuana. But later in the discussion, Bolz opted to vote on the amendment as written to save time, as long as it could be amended later.
Others had different concerns.
"I'm concerned about Middletown going on record as acknowledging a medical use for marijuana," said Commissioner Ken McClellan.
"We are not legalizing anything," countered Richard Pelletier. "We are in no way trying to pass a law saying that medical marijuana is a wonderful thing, or it is even good."
Some commissioners also questioned the language of the rule, inquiring about the distinction between medical and nonmedical uses for the drug.
"Marijuana is marijuana," at least three commissioners - McClellan, Les Adams and Barbara Plum - said during the discussion.
Either way, Adams said, "It's illegal. I don't believe in this medical marijuana or marijuana."
Wackers explained that the goal was to have regulations in place before the state legalized medical marijuana. Without the regulation, he said, a storeowner could announce their intent to sell medical marijuana once the legislature allows it. Then, Wackers said, that person would be grandfathered in under any regulations the city introduced later.
"As staff we see this as a perfectly acceptable use of zoning," he said. "We can't take away rights," Wackers said. "Right now it's not legal and it can't be done, but we're looking to create certainty. And there was a lot of confusion in this legislative session about this area."
On numerous times in the past few years, he said, state politicians have seriously considered passing a law that would allow it.
Wackers explained that this was the third time the commission had considered an amendment restricting the sale of medical marijuana. The first the commission considered was an outright prohibition of the drug, but some commission members thought that was too strict, he said. Later, the commission considered a regulation that allowed pharmacies to obtain a special exemption from the commission, but that was "probably too confused and muddied," Wackers said.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Middletown Press, The (CT)
Copyright: 2011 The Middletown Press
Contact: letters@middletownpress.com
Website: The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown CT and surrounding areas
Details: MapInc
Author: Claire Michalewicz
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously passed a zoning amendment Wednesday that permits the sale of "marijuana or medical marijuana" if the state legalizes its use, but only by licensed pharmacists at a pharmacy in certain zones of the city.
Deputy Director of Planning, Conservation and Development Michiel Wackers explained that only licensed pharmacists with doctoral degrees could dispense marijuana, and only at pharmacies in certain zones of the city. The zones were focused along Washington, Newfield and South Main streets, away from the city core.
Before the vote, the item was open for a public hearing, but no residents stepped forward to comment. Commissioners considered adding several changes to the regulation, but ultimately decided to pass it as written.
Carl Bolz proposed adding language that would allow Middlesex Hospital to dispense marijuana. But later in the discussion, Bolz opted to vote on the amendment as written to save time, as long as it could be amended later.
Others had different concerns.
"I'm concerned about Middletown going on record as acknowledging a medical use for marijuana," said Commissioner Ken McClellan.
"We are not legalizing anything," countered Richard Pelletier. "We are in no way trying to pass a law saying that medical marijuana is a wonderful thing, or it is even good."
Some commissioners also questioned the language of the rule, inquiring about the distinction between medical and nonmedical uses for the drug.
"Marijuana is marijuana," at least three commissioners - McClellan, Les Adams and Barbara Plum - said during the discussion.
Either way, Adams said, "It's illegal. I don't believe in this medical marijuana or marijuana."
Wackers explained that the goal was to have regulations in place before the state legalized medical marijuana. Without the regulation, he said, a storeowner could announce their intent to sell medical marijuana once the legislature allows it. Then, Wackers said, that person would be grandfathered in under any regulations the city introduced later.
"As staff we see this as a perfectly acceptable use of zoning," he said. "We can't take away rights," Wackers said. "Right now it's not legal and it can't be done, but we're looking to create certainty. And there was a lot of confusion in this legislative session about this area."
On numerous times in the past few years, he said, state politicians have seriously considered passing a law that would allow it.
Wackers explained that this was the third time the commission had considered an amendment restricting the sale of medical marijuana. The first the commission considered was an outright prohibition of the drug, but some commission members thought that was too strict, he said. Later, the commission considered a regulation that allowed pharmacies to obtain a special exemption from the commission, but that was "probably too confused and muddied," Wackers said.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Middletown Press, The (CT)
Copyright: 2011 The Middletown Press
Contact: letters@middletownpress.com
Website: The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown CT and surrounding areas
Details: MapInc
Author: Claire Michalewicz
