Sea Cliff weighs new marijuana law

Leaders discuss marijuana regulations

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The North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse hosted a panel on Monday featuring a number of local leaders who discussed implementation of the new marijuana law in their communities.

The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in March, establishes rules and regulations for carrying, using and growing cannabis in New York. Most notably, the measure allows those over 21 to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.

“This is complicated in a lot of ways,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. “The laws are simple, but because we’re given a lot of leeway when it comes to marijuana [laws] and how we’re going to enforce those laws that are put in place, it becomes complicated.”

In addition to establishing New York’s cannabis rules and regulations, the law allows local municipalities to further define its terms, creating guidelines specific to their communities. While the law allows cannabis to be smoked anywhere that tobacco smoking is permitted, local governments can introduce legislation to further limit smoking — having a direct impact on marijuana use.

“We are working to expand our no-smoking ban to follow the county in ensuring there is no smoking in village parks and on village property,” Sea Cliff Mayor Elena Villafane said.

The law also allows local municipalities to opt out of allowing retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption, effectively banning the public sale of cannabis in retail settings. Local leaders have until Dec. 31 to opt out. Voters who oppose the law will have the opportunity, through signature gathering, to potentially override the local government’s decision.

“We’re thinking the Village of Old Brookville will definitely opt out from permitting retail dispensing and on-site consumption,” Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba said. “I and the trustees simply do not want that type of retail establishment in our community because of the message it sends.”

A major factor in New York’s legalization of marijuana was the potential for statewide revenue resulting from the taxation of commercial cannabis. Local leaders said they are unsure, however, if the added funds would be worth it for their communities in the long run. Sea Cliff, for example, as it falls under the Town of Oyster Bay, would only see 1 percent of the tax revenue after it was divided among the other municipalities within the town.

“In the current economic climate, I’m not one to turn my back on any money, but I don’t know that this money would be worth it,” Villafane said. “There are so many things that are attendant to the enforcement and the management of it. It would require a long, hard look at our zoning board, our planning code, to see where and how we would want to manage this in our village. The 1 percent doesn’t really move the needle for me.”

While leaders in certain municipalities like Old Brookville have already come to a consensus on the opt-out option, others believe more time is needed to make an informed decision.

“I think this is something that we have to watch. The legislation itself [needs to be] fleshed out; there’s holes in it that need to be addressed . . . Let’s look and see before we jump into the pool,” Villafane said. “We, as guardians of the future in our children, really owe a major hard look at [the law], and I don’t think it’s something that can be done by Dec. 31.”