Greenburgh Insider: discussion: allowing marijuana dispensaries tonight at Town Bd meeting.

 

Discussion: allowing marijuana dispensaries tonight at Town Bd meeting.

Tonight the Town Board will be holding a public discussion related to New York State’s recent legislation related to the legalization of marijuana throughout the state for anyone 21 years or older.  The following link will bring you to several informational guides from New York State’s Office of Cannabis management and to a document focusing on local Town of Greenburgh land-use  Considerations. 

http://agendaquick.greenburghny.com:8085/agenda_publish.cfm?id=0&mt=ALL&get_month=10&get_year=2021&dsp=agm&seq=7143&rev=0&ag=1764&ln=34135&nseq=&nrev=&pseq=&prev=#ReturnTo34135

 

Local governments in the state such as the Town of Greenburgh will have little or no control over some aspects of cannabis, while other aspects afford more local control from a land-use perspective. As example, municipalities can opt-out of allowing cannabis retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption licenses (cannabis lounges) if a local law is adopted by 12/31/2021.  If a municipality does not opt-out by 12/31, it cannot opt-out in the future, but if a municipality does opt-out before 12/31, it can opt back in at a later date.

Another option is to opt-in with conditions, such as allowing dispensaries but not lounges, and/or allowing them only in certain non-residential zones away from schools, playgrounds, etc. The Town Board appreciates hearing the opinions of residents, which can be made by attending the meeting this evening at the Town Hall Auditorium 7:30pm, emailing comments to townboard@greenburghny.com or by providing a comment via video conference tonight as part of the meeting (via Zoom webinar – accessed by emailing a request to attend to publiccomment@greenburghny.com). Town staff will make a brief presentation this evening regarding various local considerations, prior to public comment.

Paul Feiner