Although New York residents are excited to purchase recreational cannabis, over 400 towns voted to block dispensaries and consumption lounges. After the recreational bill passes in New York, there will be many dry towns that won’t sell cannabis.
400 New York Towns Don’t Want the Smoke
A New York law will legalize recreational weed but not everyone is on board with the change. Per the bill, municipalities can opt-out of hosting cannabis consumption sites and/or dispensaries until December 31st. It’s still too early to tell exactly how many towns will end up opting out.
According to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, over 400 towns have opted out. Approximately 252 towns and 164 villages have opted out of dispensaries. Additionally, 279 towns and 179 villages opted out of consumption sites.
Photo by Jan Zwarthoed via Unsplash
Just because a town opts out doesn’t mean the decision stands forever. Many officials who opted out said they want more information from the Office of Cannabis Management before a possible revote. But, will the information be enough to convince the older generation?
As voting usually goes, age played a polarizing effect in the choice to support or argue against opting out. For instance, in the Town of Goshen, older people tended to support a dry town with the younger generation siding with the opposition.
“We are concerned that dispensaries in our neighborhoods will normalize the use of marijuana even further than it already is.”
Anita Seefried-Brown, Watertown-based Alliance for Better Communities
California and New Jerseys’ Take on Cannabis Business
New York isn’t the only state that has uninterested towns. In California, 70% of cities have banned retail cannabis businesses. Additionally, according to Mike Cera, the executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, 70% of New Jersey’s municipalities opted out of allowing various cannabis establishments.
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