[420 Girl]

Windsor Beacon: Is turning over the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries to the voters the best way to deal with the issue?

Mayor John Vazquez: I have mixed feelings. We were elected to be trustees to the town and to make good decisions. I don’t think it’s appropriate to put questions to the people before we ask the board. That’s irresponsible, why even elect us?

Board member Matthew O’ Neill: I have mixed feelings about giving it to the people. I think they need to make a decision based on the facts. In this case, it’ll turn into an election issue. However, I’m concerned it will be like the last election where a lot of people didn’t vote. That’s why they elected us.

Board member Nancy Weber: Once we assess all the risks I’m not sure we would go to the voters.

Beacon: Do you believe the ordinance being considered by the board does enough to regulate medical marijuana?

Vazquez: It does everything we can do to regulate medical marijuana. We have sufficiently developed an ordinance to check who operates dispensaries, where they’re located and when it is in operation. It’s also an opportunity to give background checks and to check the characteristics of those involved.

O’Neill: By the time we get done with it, with discussing it at Monday night’s meeting and at tonight’s (Thursday’s) planning commission, I think it will. It’ll be interesting to see if it’s left unregulated though.

I think in a short amount of time, they’ll (dispensary owners) cannibalize themselves and put themselves out.

Weber: My understanding is that medical marijuana dispensaries are legal. It’s a constitutional right. The only thing I can do is to zone it. Looking at the zoning aspect of it we would have some very tight zoning areas.

Beacon: From a board member’s perspective, do you believe the presence of medical marijuana dispensaries in town will have a negative impact on the anti-drug and alcohol effort being conducted by the schools?

Vazquez: As a school board member, I believe there is no benefit to the student population (regarding dispensaries in town). I believe the rest of the board feels the same. The drug problem existed before dispensaries came to town. Since they have, it has not increased the quantity but the quality. We want our kids to make good decisions. I can’t create a policy to do that.

As a mayor, whatever policy is created it will have a co-existence. We’re going to create a policy that’s not near schools, where it won’t be in high profile areas and we’ll ask it be discretely.

O’Neill: No I don’t because if they’re already doing it, they’re doing it. It’s the same with alcohol consumption and cigarette use. I think a lot of alcohol use happens at home. Kids are influence by their parents and it’s not only the law enforcements responsibility but a parent’s responsibility.

Weber: It’s a fear of mine, a realistic fear but I look at my job as a solution provider for citizens. If we get everybody in the middle of a decision I think that would be a good place to be.

Beacon: Some citizens suggest the board is more interested in protecting the rights of dispensary owners than Windsor residents. Do you believe this is a fair statement?

Vazquez: No, not at all. I’m defending the state constitution.

The fact is that we have protection rights and I don’t want to subject the town because of a personal belief. However, I am bringing my ethics and values into the community. I can create policies, however, I can’t legislate values.

Our policy is also going to be stricter and more rigorous with the process because we’re taking information from a lot of communities and modifying it. We’re taking the most appropriate approach. Will it make everybody happy? No.

O’Neill: No, I definitely don’t think it’s a fair statement. Medical marijuana dispensaries came in as a business and we’ve treated them as a business. I don’t like it but they have a right to be here.

Weber: I can only speak for myself and my concern is for the wellness of the citizens. I do believe the board also has a concern for the welfare of Windsor.

Beacon: This issue has generated a lot of citizen input. What sort of reactions have you heard?

Vazquez: I’ve heard mixed reactions. It depends on the individual but a number of people have been passionate one way or another. I also believe it’s important to get informed and not to have off base or inaccurate information. I try to do my best to get accurate information out.

We’re also kind of figuring it out as we go and not getting sued in the process.

O’Neill: It’s been weird. I’ve received 23 e-mails since Monday and seven of them said to regulate the ordinance and 13 of them want to see them banned. I’ve also received 36 informative phone calls. I also know there are people out there afraid of coming forward.

Weber: I have heard from probably more citizens than I knew before. I’m overwhelmed with emails that people support a complete ban. We can’t do a complete band and I’m trying to get the message out there. When we get the map out there may not be that many places for these dispensaries to be. At the end of the day, it’s an educational process.

Beacon: Do you believe the board imposed a tough timeline on itself with this issue? Do you feel that was the right decision?

Vazquez: It’s a fair timeline. We also reserved the right to extend the moratorium if we needed to. It’s been a good faith gesture. We’re going to be proactive and not just hide behind the state and make decisions later once they do. It’s been an education process, a fair process. I absolutely believe that was the right decision.

O’Neill: I think we did a 75-day moratorium to give the community a chance to see how serious we are about this. We’re taking a proactive approach which shows that we’re serious about getting it done. I think we all want to get it done and not to just put it on the back burner.

Weber: I do think it was too short because it was at the end of the year and during the holiday season. It required a lot of work for everybody. We all need to be educated and we only have one chance. The most important thing was to get the moratorium in place. It sounded like a long time but if it wasn’t workable the right thing to do is extend it.

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