Avon Won't Pursue Medical Marijuana Facility Moratorium

While nearby towns like Farmington and West Hartford recently adopted moratoriums on medical marijuana facilities, the Avon Planning and Zoning Commission has opted not to go that route. 

“They didn’t think a moratorium was essential," Avon Town Planner Steven Kushner said. 

A moratorium would have enacted a temporary ban blocking medical marijuana facilities from moving in. It's a means many towns are using to bide time for researching the new state regulations and drafting its own zoning rules on a municipal level for dispensaries and production plants. 

But Kushner said that the commissioners did not foresee review of the new regulations to be complicated in Avon. They have instructed him to research possible areas in town where a medical marijuana facility would go and work on a draft for suggested regulations. 

For instance, just like towns have laws about how close a liquor store can be to certain places like schools, Kushner said many similar considerations may come into place with a medical marijuana facility. A special permit would likely be needed to open one in Avon. 

“There is no one that is locating such a facility in Avon that we’re aware of," he said. 

Farmington has gotten one inquiry, but no application has been submitted, according to Farmington planning officials.