Recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut are likely to start next year, but not in Ridgefield, where residents voted 3-1 in Wednesday's emergency town meeting to ban medical and recreational dispensaries. There were 48 votes in favor of allowing dispensaries.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi says with no in-state precedent, the new ordinance had to be crafted from scratch.

"It was a lot of original work and research and studying the state statute to make sure our ordinance was in conformity with statute," he said.

Marconi says cannabis will still be readily available to residents who want to partake.

Less than 200 residents voiced their opinions Wednesday night. People News 12 spoke with in Ridgefield's downtown Friday largely say they got it right.

"I don't think we should be putting people in jail for possessing small amounts of it or using it, but I don't think we want to send our children the message that it's normal," said Kirk Carr.

Carr is worried about the chilling effect he says a dispensary would have on Ridgefield's downtown.

Nearby Danbury approved recreational marijuana sales in August while Wilton officials are considering extending that town's marijuana moratorium for another year.