Simsburymancollects nearly 2,000 signatures to get cannabis on November election ballot
Jul. 10—The kicker is that Turner, a Navy veteran, isn't for or against the idea of recreational cannabis sales in town: he just wants voters to have a choice because the Board of Selectman enacted a ban on the idea.
"I'm pro-putting it on the ballot; do it right," Turner said in May as he was seeking signatures near town hall and the police department headquarters.
On Thursday, Turner expressed relief at having achieved his goal to have the question be put to the town's voters after four months of work.
"It really took a lot out of me," said Turner who estimates that he gathered about 85 percent of the signatures with some help from two supporters who he declined to name. "It was a long process and I'm glad that it's over."
The Board of Selectmen voted in February to place a 123 month moratorium on allowing recreational cannabis sales in town and then increased it to 18 months at a subsequent meeting, with the intention of not forcing new-to-office elected officials to have to deal with the issue almost immediately after being sworn into office.
Turner said that he doesn't know whether people want recreational cannabis sales in town, but he did learn that they want an opportunity to have a say.
"Our residents seem very interested in having this on the ballot," he said. "Everyone wants to weigh in."
Aaron Smith, co-founder and CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said that while he wasn't aware of the local issue there will be a market for cannabis in town regardless of the outcome of the referendum.
"All voters will be deciding on is whether to ensure consumers there procure their cannabis from a local state-licensed business that creates local jobs and pays taxes that support their community or to force them to make their purchase elsewhere, benefiting another town's economy," Smith said. "Nearly a decade of experience in several states has proven that the presence of state-licensed cannabis facilities benefit public safety by creating a safe alternative to the criminal market while stimulating the local economy. Hopefully voters will make sure Simsbury is able to reap those benefits."
Simsbury First Selectwoman Wendy Mackstudis, who signed Turner's petition, said Thursday that she was happy that the public would have an opportunity to decide the issue instead of elected boards.
"It's not a surprise though, as we knew Tom would get the signatures seeing how hard he worked," she said. "It just confirms it will happen."
