Commercial cannabis: North Canaan sets vote on Nov. ballot

NORTH CANAAN — Citing a lack of public consensus on the issue of commercial cannabis, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) voted at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17 to add the question to the ballot for the November 2023 election.

To facilitate the decision, the existing cannabis moratorium was extended for one year beyond its impending expiration date of February 2023.

P&Z chairman Tim Abbott reported that two workshops on the issue in the past eight months failed to indicate a clear direction, and that the additional time will allow the P&Z to gather more information.

Following the November vote, the P&Z would then have three months to absorb the results of the referendum, Abbott noted.

“We will continue the public conversation,” Abbott said, “so that people will know what they are choosing to do.”

Following the meeting, P&Z member Mike O’Connor commented, “We’re being as transparent as possible.”

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