Medical Marijuana in Old Saybrook – The Facts
April 24, 2018
The State of Connecticut has a legalized medical marijuana program, which allows authorized medical marijuana patients to receive a marijuana recommendation from a certified physician and apply for a State-issued Connecticut Medical Marijuana ID Card (CMMIC).
In order to become a legal medical marijuana patient you must have a qualifying condition as outlined by the department of health services and/or department of justice to purchase marijuana for medicinal use in a State licensed dispensary. Dispensaries are highly secured and are required to have strict surveillance. Dispensaries are identified by an 18” x 16” sign and are not open to the general public. To enter a dispensary, you enter a secured area where you must present your CMMIC for security clearance and authorization through the State of Connecticut. Once the CCMIC holder is cleared they are allowed to enter a reception area for additional clearance prior to entering an area where marijuana products are being displayed prior to dispensing.
CCMIC holders are the only ones who can enter the dispensary or legally be on the property.
The State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) issues medical marijuana dispensing and growing facility licenses as well as licenses for a number of controlled substances including but not limited to liquor, nicotine and prescription drugs.
In 2018, the DCP has offered and anticipates awarding between three (3) and ten (10) marijuana dispensary facility licenses. The State reserves the right to award fewer than three (3) dispensary licenses if the DCP concludes an insufficient number of qualified applicants or fewer dispensaries are desirable. The State is not awarding any new licenses for growing facilities as a part of this licensing program. The deadline to submit applications to the State was April 9, 2018.
The State licensing application requires that the Applicant provide documents sufficient to establish that state and local building, fire and zoning requirements and local ordinances are met for the proposed location of the dispensary facility at the time of the licensing application submittal.~ If zoning approval is received after the submission deadline, the permit may be submitted to the State for determination if the subsequent information will be considered, or not considered, as part of the licensing review process.
The Department of Consumer Protection will not disclose to the Town of Old Saybrook how many applications were submitted for possible locations in Old Saybrook during their licensing review process.
As of April 24, 2018, no permits have been approved by the Town of Old Saybrook for a medical marijuana dispensing facility. However, the Old Saybrook Zoning Commission received one (1) application for a medical marijuana dispensary which is scheduled for public hearing on May 7th.
If the Zoning Commission approves an application for a medical marijuana dispensary in Old Saybrook, it does not mean the State of Connecticut will approve the location for a dispensing license.
The State has a number of qualifications and requirements that must be satisfied prior to the issuance of a dispensary license. For example, when evaluating dispensary facility applications, the State will evaluate the applicant’s proximity to other dispensary facilities and whether the location will improve patient access to the program.~A dispensary may be approved by local officials yet still be denied a license by the State.
For additional information contact:
Susie Beckman
Economic Development Office
860-395-3139
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