The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) extended the town’s cannabis retail sales moratorium until July 1 at their December meeting. The move, an attempt to gather more public feedback, may also be a signal that officials are moving away from allowing retail cannabis sites — and possibly cultivation businesses as well.

Selectman Bruce Wilson, chair of the ad hoc Marijuana Advisory Committee, said the group has received little feedback from residents making it difficult to gauge resident sentiment. However, Wilson said he is sensing that public opinion may be shifting against cannabis shops in Madison. He also expressed concerns about whether potential taxes raised by cannabis sales would benefit the town.

“I’m just not sure how much support it has here in town," Wilson said. "The big tradeoff for me, and the big thing to consider, is the three percent in sales tax worth the increased burden on town infrastructure? That is a conversation we need to have as a committee. Is it worth the tradeoff? Because the three percent sales tax doesn’t really add up to a lot of money unless the sales are astronomically high, and that doesn’t seem to be a reasonable assumption."

Wilson said the committee needs to have conversations about perceived tax benefits before any recommendations can be made.

"The Commission will get together in January and provide a recommendation to the Board of Selectman one way or the other,” said Wilson.

According to Wilson, prior to the creation of the Committee, feedback came down squarely in favor of legalization, but the issue of actual retail shops in Madison appears to be a proposal that may be losing traction with residents.

“We haven’t had a lot of public input or comment on this topic. The sense I get in the community is that people are generally opposed to legalization, but generally don’t want to have sales in Madison,” said Wilson. “As a practical matter, I’m not sure if Madison could host a grower. I just don’t know if we have the geography or space or infrastructure to do it right. Interestingly, in the months leading up to the legislature approving this law, I was approached by people mostly in favor of legalized cannabis and retail in Madison. Since the law has been passed, I’ve been approached mostly by people against the retail, so the support for it seems to have quieted down or gone away, I’m not sure.”

While feedback has been slow-arriving, Wilson noted that the ad hoc committee's meetings are public and residents are encouraged to attend.

"Our first meeting did not have very many members of the public," Wilson said. "It seems as if this is something that is not on anybody’s radar, for or against.”

Town officials at this point do not have a clear idea whether the issue will be settled via a referendum vote or via a town meeting and ordinance method. As of publication, no date has been set for the next committee meeting. Town meetings are published at madisonct.org.