![Towns consider cannabis options](https://millertonnews.com/media-library/rebelle-dispensary-is-one-of-several-cannabis-outlets-in-great-barrington.jpg?id=48188914&width=980&quality=90)
Rebelle Dispensary is one of several cannabis outlets in Great Barrington.
Photo by Terry Cowgill
This is the second in a series on the legalization of cannabis in Connecticut.
NORTH CANAAN — As towns across the Northwest Corner have struggled to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic and change the way they do business, they can add another major challenge: how to handle private business interests that want to enter the retail cannabis sector or grow it for the wholesale market.
Connecticut legalized adult-use marijuana sales last year, and the state has put in place some guideposts and incentives with potential revenue streams that could be game-changers for cash-strapped towns.
Municipalities are free to regulate cannabis businesses — medical or recreational — as they would just about any other businesses. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Research, towns may prohibit them from opening, reasonably restrict their hours and signage, restrict their proximity to religious institutions, schools, charitable institutions, hospitals, veterans’ homes or certain military establishments.
According to the Litchfield firm of Cramer & Anderson, which provides legal services to several Northwest Corner towns, a key provision of the new law stipulates that cannabis establishments must be zoned just as similar businesses would be unless municipalities regulate them through their zoning codes or ordinances.
Under Connecticut’s law, possession of 1.5 ounce of cannabis is legal. Since October 2021, medical marijuana patients have been able to grow up to three mature and three immature plants at home starting, with a cap of 12 total plants per household. By July 1, 2023, all adults will be able to grow at home under the same rules.
In neighboring Massachusetts, the cultivation, sale and use of recreational cannabis-related products was legalized through a 2016 ballot initiative.
Cramer & Anderson says it’s also worth noting that, unlike in the Bay State, municipalities in Connecticut that allow micro-cultivators and adult-use cannabis stores “are subject to a cap that limits operations to one retailer and one micro-cultivator for every 25,000 municipal residents until July 1, 2024.” In addition, successful applicants must obtain a special permit from the town for both retail and cultivation uses.
But we’re still in uncharted territory with implications that are controversial, and towns are scrambling to craft appropriate regulations, ban cannabis operations altogether or enact moratoriums on cannabis applications to give planning and zoning commissions time to amend zoning codes that match this challenge.
Hearst Connecticut Media conducted a survey early this year and found that, of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns, 22 have established bans on sales and cultivation, while 53 have enacted moratoriums on applications.
In Kent, retail stores are prohibited from selling recreational cannabis. In January, Sharon passed a six-month moratorium. Danbury passed a one-year moratorium last July. In Norfolk, a public hearing was held earlier this month to allow public input on several zoning proposals, one of which would regulate the retail sale of cannabis, Tom Fahsbender, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), told The Lakeville Journal.
But perhaps the most interesting case lies in North Canaan, where the Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing in May on a proposed temporary moratorium on cannabis applications.
“We have a rare opportunity for revenue in North Canaan and in light of rising costs, especially education costs, we need to take a serious look at putting a dispensary here,” said former Selectman Susie Clayton.
The town’s taxpayers are frustrated over a steep increase this year of $745,000 in the town’s Region One assessment, placing what officials feel is an undue burden on Canaan.
Though by comparison North Canaan’s population is lower than Salisbury’s, it still has to pay substantially more to the regional school district because it sends more than twice as many students to Housatonic. In addition, Salisbury’s weighted voting power on the Region One Board of Education is higher because North Canaan’s population is lower.
The higher tax burden is compounded by the fact that North Canaan’s tax rate is higher because its property values are generally lower than Salisbury’s. North Canaan Selectman Craig Whiting said last fall that the Region One assessment is “bringing our town to its knees.”
Its unknown how much revenue the cannabis industry could bring to North Canaan.
Twenty minutes to the north, Great Barrington, which has about twice as many full-time residents as North Canaan, took in more than $1 million in the first six months after Theory Wellness, the town’s first recreational cannabis store, opened in January 2019 to long lines that snaked almost around the corner to the Price Chopper. Half a dozen others have since opened.
Great Barrington’s finance director said 12 months ago that since 2019, the town had taken in $6.7 million in cannabis revenue, though officials expect the numbers to decline should sales begin in Connecticut and in New York, where the state Legislature also legalized adult-use last year.
For some perspective, in 2019 Great Barrington’s annual budget was a little more than $30 million, including its assessment to fund the regional school district.
“This will never turn into Great Barrington,” North Canaan resident Ed Capowitz said at the hearing. “We’re allowed one facility. Why turn down that revenue?”
“Our tax bills are getting higher and I know that the ... selectmen are having trouble even trying to get the budget raised whatsoever because there’s just not enough money to go around,” added Ruth Adotte. “So what I’m saying is it would help with the taxes.”
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, which regulates cannabis, has laid out the taxing scheme for retail cannabis sales: the standard 6.35% sales tax levied on most retail items, a 3% sales tax dedicated to the city or town where the sale occurs, and a tax based on THC content that will cost approximately 10 to 15% of the sale price.
The state estimates the total cumulative taxes paid on cannabis purchases to be roughly 20% of the retail price.
Tim Abbott, who chairs the North Canaan P&Z, said no applications have been received yet. Weeks after the public hearing in May, the commission voted unanimously to enact an eight-month moratorium on cannabis applications to give the panel time to draw up regulations, such as which parts of town are appropriate for cannabis, hours of operation, signage and recovering costs for additional policing.
“These are the areas where we have some control,” Abbott said, who said he is neutral on whether to allow sales and cultivation of the product.
A townwide referendum on whether to allow cannabis sales and/or cultivation is tentatively slated for November. If it passes, Abbott expects the regulations should be ready for review by March 2023.
Abbott emphasized that, “Kicking the can down the road isn’t the purpose of a moratorium. It buys you time to do your due diligence, to educate yourself as a commission, to know the law, to see what it might look like in the event that the new change happens.”
The sentiment among Canaanites could spur action. Some residents at May’s public hearing objected even to a moratorium. Lyle Kloke said he thought the commission was “negligent” in not addressing the issue even sooner.
LAKEVILLE — Ann Marie Nonkin, 80, of Millerton Road, passed away Aug. 25, 2024, at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She was the loving wife of the late Dr. Paul Nonkin.
She was born April 12, 1944 in Queens, New York, the daughter of the late John and Ann Vallen.
She was a medical technician for Manhattan Eye and Ear for many years.
She was an active Parishioner in years past at St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville, where she ran many activities. Alongside that, she was an avid gardener.
She is survived by one cousin, Joan Jalbert.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 30 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church the Parish of St. Martin of Tours in Lakeville.
A burial will be on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Little Guild, 285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike in West Cornwall, CT 06796.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Elm Drive Elementary School in Millbrook.
MILLERTON — The beginning of September is quickly approaching, which means that summer is coming to an end for many kids in the Hudson Valley.
Webutuck, Millbrook, and Pine Plains schools are looking forward to the first day of school next week. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, children enrolled in the Millbrook or Pine Plains school district will start their academic year. The following day, Thursday, Sept. 5, students in the Webutuck district will have their first day of school. These school districts are starting the year with a short week for students, allowing the children to get a sense of routine without overwhelming them.
According to the Weather Channel, the school week starts Wednesday and Thursday will be slightly cloudy and in the low 70s, with a chance of rain later Friday evening.
Fairgoers at this year’s Dutchess County Fair from Aug. 20-25 enjoyed thrilling rides on the Midway, including on this flying chair ride. The annual fair in Rhinebeck is one of the largest attractions in Dutchess County with 12 acres of fairgrounds and barns showcasing livestock, along with three show arenas, free entertainment and plenty to eat.
RHINEBECK — The Dutchess County Fair has ended for the season, which ran from Aug. 20 until Sunday, Aug. 25.
The Dutchess County Fair designated 12 acres of the fairgrounds to showcase local livestock. This included 12 barns housing dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits, three show arenas with daily scheduled events, and workroom demonstrations.
Besides offering dozens of themed gardens, waterfalls, and ponds filled with koi and colorful flowers, the fair also travels back in time with the “turn of the century treasures.” It features a century museum village, the firefighters’ museum, a working blacksmith shop, and a gas-powered engine show.
Classic treats like candy apples and cotton candy fed the masses at the Dutchess County Fair. The annual fair in Rhinebeck is one of the largest attractions in Dutchess County with 12 acres of fairgrounds and barns showcasing livestock, along with three show arenas, free entertainment and plenty to eat.Photo by Olivia Valentine
Free entertainment included live music, frisbee dogs, a stilt circus, racing pigs, a petting zoo, dock dogs, a fishing tank, and a VR tractor ridealong. Musicians who performed included Tracy Byrd, Kameron Marlowe, Conner Smith, Kissnation, Bluffett, and Grammy-winning artist Rick Springfield.
Agencies represented included the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Medical Reserve Corps, Animal Response Team, and more.
A major partnership with the fair is ThinkDifferently, implementing accommodations for individuals and families with disabilities.
“ThinkDIFFERENTLY Thursday was born half a dozen years ago with the understanding that institutions like this and places like this often are difficult for individuals with any amount of disability to access,” U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-19) said.
Elizabeth “Tilly” Strauss’, the Town of North East’s clerk, and her father, Julian, won two blue ribbons at the Dutchess County Fair for his maple syrup. From a third-generation farm in Dutchess County, Julian started making maple syrup about 14 years ago, naming it Home Farm Maple Syrup. This was his first year competing at the fair, winning four ribbons. To learn more about Julian’s syrup, visit @homefarmmaplesyrup on Instagram or email homefarmmaple@optonline.com
Photo by Olivia Valentine
The ferris wheel at the Dutchess County Fair ran all week, taking visitors high into the sky. The annual fair in Rhinebeck is one of the largest attractions in Dutchess County with 12 acres of fairgrounds and barns showcasing livestock, along with three show arenas, free entertainment and plenty to eat.
A. Gregg Pulver
POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Comptroller A. Gregg Pulver filed an audit request of the New York Department of Public Service Commission Thursday, Aug. 15.
Pulver sent the letter to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli over concerns about recent rate hikes by electric and gas utility provider Central Hudson. Pulver said the utility has practiced bad corporate citizenship by hiking rates and refusing to address problems in its billing department despite soaring corporate profits.
As of Friday, Aug. 23, the state comptroller’s office has not responded to Pulver’s audit request. “Tom DiNapoli is very responsive to needs, I’m sure we will hear something shortly,” Pulver said.
Pulver’s concerns center around the approval process for the rate increase. He said he wants more information about how exactly the PSC balances customer concerns with the financial materials supplied by Central Hudson.
The PSC requires utilities in New York to file regular rate plan approvals. That process takes 10 to 12 months to complete. “It was a litigated case,” Central Hudson Director of Media Relations Joe Jenkins said. “Which means it was essentially put on trial.”
During that process, interested parties, industry experts, employees of Central Hudson and concerned customers give their testimony and recommendations to the PSC. In this case, the Office of Investigations and Enforcement conducted an investigation of Central Hudson’s billing issues and PA Consulting was hired as an independent monitor to verify Central Hudson had rectified the issues and to make further recommendations to the PSC.
After that deliberative process, the PSC issued a rate plan that allowed the utility to increase revenues from electric by 5.5% and from gas by 7.3%. The average customer would see an approximate $12 increase on electric bills and a $9 increase on gas as a result.
Pulver also raised concerns over Central Hudson’s billing practices. “People were getting billed for three or four or five times what they used to do,” Pulver said. “It was an atrocious time.”
Jenkins said Central Hudson has ironed out these issues. In July PA Consulting, the independent monitor hired by the PSC, issued a report stating Central Hudson had resolved its billing issues and that bills were accurate moving forward.
As part of the approved rate plan, the PSC mandated Central Hudson must make recommended investments in billing and customer service, including implementing monthly meter readings, and that ratepayer funds could not be used to pay for those investments.