Since New York State legalized recreational cannabis earlier this year, decommissioning of cannabis dispensaries within its borders has been a topic of conversation in New York City. Municipalities must decide before December 31 whether to allow the opening of these retail stores.
The issue has been controversial in Newfane, where a vote on the exclusion, that is, a ban on the retail sale of recreational marijuana, was included in the agenda of the December 2 city council meeting. and did not come to fruition. Following opposition from vocal neighbors, the board postponed voting until Dec. 15.
The occasionally controversial December 2 meeting highlighted the divisions over recreational cannabis in Newfane. While some opponents of the exclusion said his position was due to personal experience with cannabis, a larger part expressed concern that the exclusion would be bad for businesses in the city.
Tom Szulist, owner and operator of Singer Farms Naturals, spoke at length about the health benefits of cannabis and the financial opportunities for the city in case it decides to adopt dispensaries. CBD oil is on sale along with garlic and cherries at the Szulist farm shop; the oil is extracted from the hemp grown by Szulist. A former stockbroker turned farmer, Szulist also wants to sell recreational cannabis in his farm shop. He says he’s worried that when it shuts down, Newfane will transmit an early boom to New York State’s growing legal marijuana market.
“What it does is it stops the ability to put the first foot on the door in a huge industry,” Szulist said. “We are not talking about a small business here. We are talking about a $ 1 billion industry that will attract many different players to the market. “
Those who support allowing the sale of marijuana in the city face stiff opposition, largely from current and incoming city leaders. If some members of the public had not come out to express their views on December 2, the city council would probably have voted in favor of excluding tonight. One resident who spoke out in favor of the exclusion is incoming city supervisor John Syracuse, who takes office next month.
Syracuse believes it is premature for Newfane to consider allowing local retail marijuana, as the state has not yet established enough clearly defined regulations. This is relevant because if cities don’t turn off now, they won’t be able to do so later, but cities that turn off now can turn back on at any time.
“I really don’t think we should go in without such a regulation, because we can’t get out of it,” Syracuse said.
Syracuse criticizes New York State for setting a deadline for cities to pass exclusion laws, and believes that in the meantime it may be preferable to extend the deadline until regulations become clearer.
“I think taking a break is a safe option right now, as it would give the community more control over its own destiny over this,” Syracuse said. “It’s not an ideological position, it’s more of a government position. Are you stuck in something you don’t know what the rules are? ”
Over the past month or so, in Niagara County, the cities of Wilson, Cambria, Hartland, Somerset and Niagara, and the town of Youngstown, have passed exclusionary laws; According to Supervisor Jon MacSwan, the question is before Wheatfield City Council next week.
Opponents other than Szulist are concerned about a potential legal cannabis vacuum in the area, where potential customers take their business to Lockport, Niagara Falls or Lewiston.
“If it’s not in this city, then (the business) will go to the city that owns it, because it’s a commodity.” said Szulist. “Or they will continue to buy it on the street, which means they will improve what the law has to eliminate.”
Szulist finally feels ambitious about how Newfane should approach recreational cannabis. He believes that this is “when” marijuana becomes legal nationwide, and that Newfane can be an example to both New York and the rest of the country.
“When applied to the whole country, who can say that we could not become a pillar in the whole nation, as much as we could become a pillar in this area? But none of that happens until you attract people and start early, ”he said.
Syracuse says trying to plan for the economic development of a new industry is premature if there are no regulations that determine how marijuana retail sales will work in practice.
“We have no idea how many dispensaries we can have in our community. Where can they be located? “He said.” What we do know is that they can’t be located 500 feet from a school, or 200 feet from a place of worship. But what about the places where children gather? I think the brand needs to try to assess economic development when we don’t have all the rules in mind. “
The City Council’s business meeting is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 6 p.m.
