© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Prospect Zoning Board Bans 'Cannabis Establishments' As Connecticut Legalizes Weed

Courtesy: Town of Prospect

Possession of cannabis for recreational use will be legal in the state on July 1. But under the new law signed by Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday, towns and cities can prohibit retail sales. Officials in Prospect have decided to do just that.

Bob Chatfield has been mayor of Prospect for a long time -- 44 years -- but he’s been answering the call for car wrecks involving drivers under the influence for longer.

“I’ve been a first responder here in Prospect for 57 years, and I’ve seen an awful lot of that,” Chatfield said. He’s worried the town will see more.

He said his biggest fear is marijuana “getting in the hands of 15-, 16-, 17-year-olds.” If that happens, he thinks “we’ll see a rise in DWI and fatalities on the highways.”  

Last week, the Prospect Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to prohibit what the bill calls “cannabis establishments” in town. Medical marijuana establishments are already prohibited, but growing facilities are legal. Currently there are no such licensed facilities in Prospect. 

But not everyone thinks that strategy will be effective.

“The cannabis will be available to those who want it just as it is now,” said Eric Sterling, former executive director of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation.

He said this law doesn’t change much for youth. 

“This measure will do nothing to affect the rate of teenage marijuana use in that town or the amount of driving under the influence in that town,” he said.

He argues that what was illegal before will still be illegal for those younger than 21 under this new law. Sterling thinks legalization offers the opportunity to create social norms around responsible marijuana use.

Under the new law, any municipality can prohibit sales in town or regulate hours of sales and signage. 

Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Ali covers the Naugatuck River Valley for Connecticut Public Radio. Email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org and follow her on Twitter at @ahleeoh.

Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. She loves hearing what you thought of her stories or story ideas you have so please email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.