Update: Statement from Angela D’Amico, co-founder of medical marijuana dispensary D&B Wellness:
I am co-founder of D&B Wellness and I must say Finch, you are a blatant liar. Some people call it politics, I call it corruption and lies. Karen and I met with you at the brown bag lunch, at city hall, and you assured us to keep fighting. “Go for it girls, don’t give up girls, Bridgeport wants you here, we believe in it,” and you folded like a deck of cards.
Many had told me to just contribute to your reelection campaign and we would get zoning, I put God first, and wouldn’t do that. But after you telling us to keep fighting and the Warnaco Project might have been jeopardized with the placement of the Dispensary, you changed your tune. Money, the route to all evil.
God Bless You.
From Brett Broesder, spokesman for Mayor Bill Finch:
(Tuesday) night, Bridgeport’s Zoning Commission voted for a year-long moratorium on accepting medical marijuana plans. This vote comes more than a month after the City’s Zoning Commission voted against allowing D&B Wellness to move forward with a medical marijuana dispensary in the city.
In response to last night’s moratorium decision, Mayor Finch’s spokesperson Brett Broesder made the following statement:
“As he does with all issues, Mayor Finch listened carefully to people from across Bridgeport as the zoning process unfolded, and heard from both sides on the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries opening in Bridgeport. He remains convinced that we have a responsibility to provide people who are hurting with the care and compassion that they deserve, which includes giving patients access to the prescribed medicine they need to survive.“However, when it comes to medical marijuana dispensaries in the state’s largest city, patient needs must be weighed against the safety and security of our kids and neighborhoods. Location is a critical factor, and thus far, proposed dispensary sites have been decidedly fraught with risk.
“The bottom line is that Mayor Finch supports medical marijuana use. But there is a lot of angst with these new experimental dispensaries, and rightly so. People don’t know what to expect, and that means the city’s zoning commission may need to amend guidelines before considering another dispensary in the Park City. That’s why Mayor Finch believes the zoning commission’s moratorium decision makes sense. And, Mayor Finch is committed to providing the zoning commission with staff support, as needed, to help tackle regulatory challenges during the moratorium.”
“As he does with all issues, Mayor Finch listened carefully to people from across Bridgeport as the zoning process unfolded, and heard from both sides on the issue.” WOW!!! When did this start? You talk about spin, you have to hold your nose on this but maybe Bill inhaled. Time will tell.
If Finch actually listened, this is the first time ever in his administration … pretty special, Bridgeport.
Unfortunate these particular entrepreneurs didn’t understand the campaign fundraising so ferociously underway. Unfortunate they didn’t understand Finch is a serial liar and has the loyalty of a gnat.
And by the way Mayor Finch, women are not girls.
I think it is absurd that the Medical Marijuana law passed a year ago and the only dispensary available to patients is in Bethel CT. Surely the cities of Connecticut can do better than this.
I think it is absurd the Medical Marijuana law passed a year ago and the only dispensary available to patients is in Bethel CT. Surely the cities of Connecticut can do better than this. Unless of course they are kowtowing to drug dealers who do not want to lose their share of the profits.
If the marijuana law were properly implemented, the hospitals would have been the dispensing agent. These so-called storefront clinics are nothing more than a place for potheads to get their weed legally. I agree people on chemo and glaucoma and a few other terrible diseases should have access to pot. What’s going to happen is everyone with an ass pain and sore back and every other lame disease will get a doctor to write a script for pot.
Here is where the drug dealers benefit, they can sell their pot cheaper and they will be selling their pot to potheads with a prescription, only in America.
Andy–anxiety is the problem you are looking for. Once it is approved for the treatment of anxiety, open the floodgates. Also, you only have to pay the tax once. Once you have the scrip and the clinic baggy, whatever cheaper street weed you put in it becomes legal.
Actually, there are many strains developed for medical use, each with different effects from appetite stimulation to that mellow relaxed feeling (so I have heard 😉 )
www .leafly.com/explore?gclid=CKPIhIbC0b4CFRAaOgodZhAAMw
Buying on the street will not guarantee the relief/benefits needed for your particular symptom.
Let’s tune into channel 88 and take notes this coming Tuesday.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety or paranoia. Getting high or “stoned” is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.
Other short-term psychological effects of pot include:
Distorted sense of time
Paranoia
Magical or “random” thinking
Short-term memory loss
Anxiety and depression
The point is not to treat. The point would be: to get high, to transport, to distribute, etc. Think of the possibilities if you had one of these ‘free passes’ as it would apply to the distribution and marketing. The only way police would be able to affect the illegal distribution of pot would be the grower. Someone with one of these passes would be able to pick it up at the farm, take it to the costumer and end the transaction inside the house with no fear of arrest. Delivering pot in one of these bags, even if it is open, would give the false impression you are getting a quality and safe product. Of course, drug dealers can get any gun they want but they would probably have a hard time getting one of these passes from Dr. Feelgood.
BTW Finch, who cares what you think, it means nothing.
A couple of zealous council people get the backing of the Town Committee and thus Finch and the P & Z go along. What else is new? What a chicken that boy Finch is! He says he wants to bring the “Creative Class” into this City and the creative, professional young people we want to attract mostly smoke or have no problem as their friends do. This whole issue was passé in the ’70s. Bridgeport is so backward. Surveys show most people support medical and recreational marijuana. Many states have outright approved it, and our own State government has approved medical marijuana!
The bottom line: we lose out on the taxes and an economic development project and the loss of a higher class of people who would come into the City to run this operation, the building is now at risk of pulling the whole neighborhood down as it may be stripped and become vacant like the Downtown North gem the City created further down Main Street. And the organized crime cartel will remain in business selling dangerous street weed. Good work, boys and girls!!!
What are you talking about? What economic development have we missed out on by turning down this facility? What higher class of person(s) are you talking about? Really?
Organized crime cartel was not going out of business because of pot dispensaries, you’re kidding, right? The sick, lame and lazy who get a doctor’s note will make their first buy from the pot store and after that go back to street pot because it’s cheaper. BTW why no clinic in the surrounding towns?
It was actually at a bipartisan business and community meeting when a city developer stated he would withdraw his multi-million dollar development project if the facility was approved and built in Bridgeport that caused Finch to whip out his cell phone on the spot and withdraw his support of the facility. Since marijuana is not a Federally approved legal substance and many hospitals and drug companies are both regulated and/or funded with Federal funds, the catch-22 keeps these parties out of the dispensary business.
As an experimental treatment it is also not covered by insurance. So few people would be legally qualified for the program, its legal distribution possibilities would be very small. Many of those people are terminally ill. It would lead one to think there is some other market or a market expansion plan that is not being advertised.
And did that multi-million dollar developer contribute to the Finch campaign???
*** A true politician will always say what sounds good at the present moment without knowing all the facts, only to backpedal later with the old excuse of “I’ve done some personal research on the subject and now feel maybe more time and study is needed towards clearing up some of the many questions that are out there!” Feed the present ego-needs with a smile and a false empty statement for the moment. Chances are the public will forget most of the temp. political backing gesture, should it ever come up again or be fooled once again by the professional politician, “no?” ***
Do we have to spell this out for the people looking to open a dispensary in Bpt??? You want to do business in this town, support the Mayor, donate to his re-election, if you do, you’ll see attitudes changing and the process will go more smoothly, darn, I bet if you did this, Finch would even build you a driveway to park. Remember last summer when the Port Jeff ferry wanted to move? Finch ferociously was against it, saying it would hurt downtown businesses (lol), well fast forward a year, the ferry company became a financial supporter of Finch, and bingo!, Finch is now “excited” about the move. You see what I’m saying here? Become a supporter, save yourself the headaches.
It would have been cheaper for D&B Wellness owners to pay the opposition speakers to go home or to an all-expenses-paid dinner party. I hear they are having a hard time with residents in a very rural section of the state after the approval was quietly made.
Next to a heavily populated building and on such a busy street is not the place for it. I do concur there is a need for such medicine, but where they wanted it is unacceptable. Kudos to the P&Z Commissioners who looked out for the best interest of the citizens of Bridgeport and the surrounding area of the parcel in question. It may not have been a loved decision by some, but time will tell.
Off topic. Allegedly all the wildlife on Pleasure Beach with the exception of Piping Plovers and Ospreys have been baited, trapped and shot! That’s not being very green. Deer, fox, raccoons, etc. WTF.
What multi-million-dollar development is happening in Bridgeport?
These are professional people who would create commerce on Main Street and become stakeholders who would get involved to stabilize the neighborhood.
Other towns? I see Bethel is going forward with it. Demographic data shows they have a much more educated populace than Bridgeport.
Bridgeporteur: Basically you are full of shit. Commerce on Main St from a bunch of potheads who have a prescription for pot. BTW dumbass, Bethel is fighting the zoning board approval.
The push for the legalization of recreational marijuana throughout the United States became one of the most discussed topics in 2013. AlterNet.org reports Colorado’s marijuana tax revenue brought in a whopping $185 million to the state, attracting anxious tourists who want to take advantage of marijuana legalization in the state.
First it was gambling that was going to lessen the burden of living in Connecticut, now its legalizing pot. This is another fairy tale. The only thing that will help citizens of Connecticut is having the legislature meet once every two years, that way it will limit the money they want to spend.
Read this and then tell me what’s the answer.
Meanwhile, Connecticut income taxes continue to go up, and Connecticut taxes generally are multiplying. According to the Yankee Institute, 2011 was a banner year when Democrats–who now control both the governor’s mansion and the legislature–pushed through 77 tax hikes. For instance:
* The personal income tax rate went up for individuals making as little as $50,000.
* The highest marginal income tax rate went up from 6.5 percent to 6.7 percent.
* The corporate tax rate went from 8.25 percent to 9 percent.
* Property tax credits were reduced to $300 (and to nothing for individuals making over $100,000).
* Estate taxes started kicking in at $2 million instead of $3.5 million.
* The real estate conveyance tax went up from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent on the first $800,000 of the sale price of one’s home.
* Luxury goods tax – 7 percent on clothing costing over $1,000, jewelry over $5,000, motor vehicles over $50,000 and boats over $100,000.
* There’s a new tax of .25 of one cent per kilowatt hour of electricity from the most reliable sources (like nuclear power, natural gas and coal) – not applicable to subsidized solar or wind power.
* Sales taxes went up to 6.35 percent.
* Sales tax exemptions were eliminated for non-prescription medicines, yoga instruction, airport valet parking, stop-smoking products and shoes costing less than $50.
* The Amazon.com tax – sellers without a physical presence in Connecticut must collect sales taxes on orders originating in Connecticut.
* Hotel taxes went from 12 percent to 15 percent.
* The rent-a-car tax went from 6.35 percent to 9.35 percent.
* The hospital tax – 4.6 percent quarterly on net hospital revenue from patients.
* Nursing home resident user fee – up from 5.5 percent to 6 percent.
* Cremation taxes, up from $100 to $150.