A neighborhood group in Stamford is suing the mayor and other municipal officials for allowing cannabis businesses in the city, which they say violates federal law.
The Stamford Neighborhoods Coalition and Jenny Colucci filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court on July 28 seeking an immediate injunction on cannabis businesses in Stamford and the state. The suit names Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons and Stamford’s Zoning Board as defendants.
The lawsuit calls Connecticut’s legal cannabis law from July 2021 a “scheme” that violates federal drug law and is thereby unconstitutional.
The lawsuit states that “Siting cannabis facilities anywhere in Stamford necessarily increases criminal activity in Stamford, putting children at greater risk.” It adds that members of the coalition believe cannabis facilities would diminish the value of nearby homes.
The lawsuit also claims the state’s cannabis law violates an equal rights provision included in Connecticut Constitution because of social equity provisions included in the law. The lawsuit says the law “includes a scheme for a Social Equity Counsel that is impermissibly selected based on race. … The purpose of the Social Equity Counsel is to entitle a certain set of people to exclusive public emoluments.”
Because of that, according to the lawsuit, the law is unconstitutional, according to state law.
Simmons’ office did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
