KENT—The Planning and Zoning Commission is working methodically forward in its consideration of regulations to the growth, manufacture, distribution and sales of cannabis products in the town of Kent.
There are two routes that might be followed for regulating such activities: zoning regulations or a town ordinance. The Planning and Zoning Commission has imposed a six-months moratorium on any applications for a marijuana business, which will run out this summer, but could be extended.
A hybrid educational forum will be held Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Blvd. Those who cannot attend in person can join by Zoom.
A group of expert panelists will field questions about retail activities, farming and production of cannabis. Participating will be Erik Gundersen, founder of ERG Strategies; Tyler Klimas, principal/founder of Leaf Street Strategies; Lila McKinley, legal program director with the state of Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection; Brandon McGee, director of the Connecticut Social Equity Council; Eric Berlin, cannabis law attorney for Dentons; and Roderick Marriot, Connecticut Drug Control director.
Sarah Chase, chairman of the PZC’s cannabis subcommittee, will be moderator for the forum. The former executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation, Chase has warned PZC members that the subject of cannabis regulation is “nuanced and complicated,” with many different aspects to consider such as agriculture, medical cannabis, social equity, the cultivation of cannabis and hemp, and retail and producer perspectives.
Following this forum, and any possible future ones, a survey will be widely released to the public seeking its reaction to regulating the business of cannabis in Kent. Questions on the survey will be made public during the forum.
To encourage participation, the subcommittee decided that questions can be either written or verbal. Those who would like to submit questions in advance can email them to Land Use Administrator Tai Kern at landuseadmin@townofkentct.org.
