Despite some concerns about on-site consumption, the Lloyd Town Board has given their consent to a cannabis grower showcase this fall at Minard’s Farm.

Jason Minard appeared before the town board last week with a request to approve the event scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 12-8 p.m. at Minard’s Farm in Clintondale. The rain date would be the following day, Sunday, November 5.

Minard explained that while the growing of cannabis is now legal in New York State, there are few outlets actually permitted to sell the product in its various forms. He has joined in the effort to persuade the state’s Office of Cannabis Management to entertain the idea of farmers selling direct through conditional adult use retail dispensaries.

“Everything will be monitored, taxed,” Minard said. “The Office of Cannabis Management delayed, but finally did issue, the guidance and as a matter of law now municipalities can participate and farmers can sell direct. So the idea here is you have to have an organizer of these events which can either be an adult use conditional cultivator, which in this case will be Hepworth AG, Amy and Gail Hepworth.”

He said the associated event will be held at Minard’s Family Farm, an agritourism operation in Clintondale.

“There will be vendors which will be conditional cultivators, and adult use processors will also be able to participate,” Minard said. “Attendance will be limited to folks that are 21 and up. And if you go through the deck here, it outlines that we will have full security on site, insurance, ambulances. We have more than enough parking to accommodate. It’s an ideal location to bring the whole industry together at a time when it’s in dire need of something of this magnitude. The idea is farmers helping farmers, and basically it’s an emergency stopgap measure that’s been initiated by the state to help the farmers, the cultivators who were encouraged to grow after they grew hemp, only the hemp growers were granted cannabis licenses this year in the first two years of growing.”

Minard said the state will issue a license for this event, but requires a letter of support from the municipality for Hepworth AG.

Minard estimated that the event will draw 3000-3500 people, a number the farm can easily accommodate.

“There’ll be music and it’s a large property,” he said.“There’ll be about 20 acres dedicated to the event, and folks won’t be crowded. And the parking. We knocked out more apple trees, so the parking is significant.”

Minard said the farm easily accommodates that many people over Columbus Day weekend and during the apple-picking season. The November date was selected as it occurs after the apple picking season.

Town Supervisor David Plavchak was concerned about the possibility of consumption of cannabis at the site and whether the town could be held liable if a driver leaving the event should cause an accident. He was told that state law prohibits public consumption, therefore anyone at the event would not be able to consume it on site.

“Can we have police officers on the property to make sure that people aren’t smoking on the property?” Plavchak asked.

No, he was told. It’s private property.

“My concern is if somebody smokes it, leaves the property and gets in an accident,” Plavchak said. “That’s my concern, especially (with) 3000 people. It could be a recipe for disaster.”

The supervisor pressed the issue.

“Well, I have a PA system, so the first step I would take is make an announcement over the PA system that consumption is not permitted at the state authorized events,” Minard said. “I was given a license by the State Office of Cannabis Management to hold the event, and in fact, Senator (Michelle) Hinchey is in support of this specific event and will likely be speaking at the event. So I think consumption will certainly be discouraged in that regard. And the Office of Cannabis Management will likely have a booth at the event due to the nature of what we’re setting up to do.”

Eventually, it came time to vote.

“Jason, I commend you to take initiative doing this,” said Councilman Joseph Mazetti “I don’t believe the state itself has thought this out thoroughly. Because for you to police it with gummies I think is going to be impossible. I understand the smoke. You could see it, but that’s not your fault. If the state didn’t think it through and this is a one time deal, I will vote yes on this.”

The motion passed unanimously.