Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2016
Source: New Haven Register (CT)
Copyright: 2016 New Haven Register
Contact:  http://www.nhregister.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292
Author: Pamela McLoughlin

PROPOSED POT DISPENSARY DRAWS FIRE

Approved, Then Rescinded, West River Road Site May Be Appealed

MILFORD - A state-approved-medical marijuana dispensary slated to 
open at 255 West River Road and opposed by nearby residential 
neighbors, is having an unexpected bumpy ride at the local level.

A zoning permit that would allow the facility to open was both 
approved and rescinded on the same day.

The city's Zoning Enforcement Officer approved the application of 
Arrow Alternative Care #2 for a dispensary on Feb. 23, a day after 
the application was submitted.

Later that day, the approval was rescinded by the boss, Joe Griffith, 
Milford's director of permitting and land use and chief zoning 
enforcement officer.

Griffith said he rescinded the approval because the application 
should have been subject to site plan approval by the Planning and 
Zoning Board - just like every other application.

Griffith also said he expects the dispensary owner to appeal the 
rescinding of the application.

The dispensary is located in a Corridor Design Development District - 
considered a commercial district - but adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Lora Rae Anderson, spokeswoman for the Department of Consumer 
Protection, which oversees the dispensaries, said of 17 applications 
received by the state, nine were in Milford.

Griffith said he's been told by people making applications that the 
city is desirable because Milford is in an excellent location and the 
zoning regulations regarding dispensaries are the least restrictive.

Griffith said there is "talk" about making the regulations more 
restrictive and that he expects a private party to soon file an 
application to change the regulations, which would have to be 
approved by the PZB. Any changes to the regulations would be brought 
to public hearing.

Anderson says 8,783 patients in the state are receiving medical 
marijuana and of those, 2,412 are in New Haven County. Another 
facility, Southern CT Wellness and Healing LLC., is slated to open at 
318 New Haven Ave.

Nine facilities have been approved in Connecticut and six are open.

State Rep. Kim Rose, a Democrat who represents the 118th, says the 
issue of the medical marijuana dispensary opening adjacent to the 
West River Road residential area was on the minds of some residents 
she met at a constituents meeting this week with Mayor Ben Blake.

"They have absolutely valid concerns and I'm concerned, as well," 
Rose said. "This is absolutely my number one priority."

Rose said she is working hard to find a resolution for all- and spent 
an hour Friday talking to the commissioner of consumer protection.

According to a flier passed out by residents in the West River Road 
area, while they are not "against a medical marijuana facility in 
Milford," and don't dispute the benefits of the medicine, they don't 
want it in their neighborhood.

Neighbors say on the flier they are concerned the facility will 
increase traffic, increase crime and violence "related to robberies 
surrounding dispensaries," soften the "attitude toward medical 
marijuana, putting children at risk," an increased presence of 
"irresponsible individuals" in the neighborhood, near schools and 
around children.

Resident Lauralee Heckman, who is among the unhappy residents, said 
she's happy the mayor and Rose are in agreement that the location in 
question is not a good one. "Hopefully the city will do the right 
thing and change the location from a residential area to a more 
business-appropriate one," Heckman said in an email. "A residential 
area where children would live directly next door and across the 
street from a marijuana dispensary just doesn't make sense."

Anderson, spokeswoman for the Department of Consumer Protection, said 
while they're looking to improve the regulations in the future, the 
application process is thorough and the facilities safe. She said 
crime actually went down in one neighborhood with a dispensary 
because there was so much security.

Anderson said there are misconceptions about the medical marijuana 
program. Only 30 percent of what's dispensed is a smoke product - the 
rest is in pill or oil form- and it cannot legally be taken out until 
the receiver is home.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom