#Bridgeport, Connecticut (May 28, 2014) – Background: Last 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 (Read Mayor Finch’s statement after the vote:http://bit.ly/1nuxUeH).

 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.”