This story by Chris Mays was published by the Brattleboro Reformer on April 27.
[D]OVER — Local officials are grappling with the concept of having venues for purchasing marijuana — medical or not.
“I’m not a doctor,” Dover Police Chief Randy Johnson told the Reformer. “People say it can help them. Then, let the [Food and Drug Administration] approve it. Then, let it become legal that way. Just knowing how it’s affected Colorado, I don’t think it’s something we need in our community.”
A subcommittee will develop surveys to gauge public support for an ordinance that would not allow medical marijuana dispensaries in town. The public input process will include discussion over including recreational sales in the ordinance, as the state has legalized recreational use starting in July.
Residents will be able to grow and use pot but won’t be able to buy it from a commercial operation. Johnson believes retail sales could be approved by state legislators soon.
Members of the public will also be informed of the state law, which does not allow medical marijuana dispensaries “within 1,000 feet of the property line of a preexisting public or private school, or licensed or regulated child care facility.”
The issue came up when Wilmington residents Kathleen Matos and Stephanie Zumbruski spoke with Dover Selectboard members in February about the possibility of opening a dispensary in town. In March, they held an informational meeting about the project.
Earlier this month, Johnson asked the Selectboard to look into having the public vote on whether to adopt an ordinance. He has been outspoken in his opposition to dispensaries due to what he believes will be an increased burden on his officers and because the drug is still illegal on the federal level.
Johnson had recommended the town prohibit dispensaries when updates were being made to the town plan a couple of years ago. He said Selectboard members wanted to get voter input back then, too.
Five percent of the voters — about 60 in Dover — would need to petition against an ordinance within 45 days of the Selectboard adopting it in order for its enactment to come to a townwide vote.
“It seems like a lot of red tape to get to the end result,” said Sandy MacDougall, a resident and inn owner.
Rockingham has an ordinance not allowing marijuana dispensaries and Newport has one prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries, Johnson said. He said concerns from other police chiefs have prompted the creation of a draft ordinance by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns so other municipalities can use it as a template.
Wayne Estey, who has property in Dover and also serves as the town’s zoning administrator, worried about missing out on opportunities to grow the grand list as well as the number of jobs and visits.
“Maybe I’m exaggerating but it’s kind of the way of the future,” he told the board. “We are not exactly the most economically developed area.”
Adam Levine, resident and restaurant co-owner, insisted on including all property owners in the conversation, although only voters would be able to vote at a special town meeting.
“This is not about who may want medical marijuana or not; this is about who wants a dispensary in their backyard or not,” he said. “It just doesn’t seem right to neglect who’s paying the majority of what’s making this town work.”
Board member Joe Mahon agreed. While McLean felt second homeowners should certainly weigh in, he noted that voters live, work and send their kids to schools in town.
“It may affect us differently than your average taxpayer,” he said.
The town has about 1,200 voters and 3,440 taxed parcels of land, according to officials.
Zumbruski and Matos are still planning to proceed with their proposal but will not push for it if residents do not want it. Another 7,000 medical marijuana cardholders will need to be registered for the state to consider applications for another dispensary.
“I think it could be great for the area because Windham County is the second largest cardholder area in the state of Vermont,” Zumbruski told the Reformer. “Something like 700-plus people just in Windham County.”
There are dispensaries in Brattleboro and Bennington but Zumbruski noted that traveling Route 9 in the winters can be difficult at times. She has lived in Wilmington for 32 years. Her background is in landscaping and gardening.
The dispensary, Zumbruski insists, is “not something that we’re just, ‘Let’s throw it here because we live here and it would be convenient.”
“There’s other reasons why we would want it here in Dover,” she said, adding that Dover’s police chief has wanted an ordinance prohibiting dispensaries put in place for a while.
Zumbruski said she and Matos are always willing to listen to concerns and answer questions. They plan to have another informational meeting after the Selectboard gets feedback from the public. Their Facebook page can be found by searching ReLeaf LLC.
