Maybrook tables action on cannabis dispensaries

Posted 7/28/21

There will be no cannabis dispensaries or on-site consumption establishments in Maybrook — at least not for a while. At an in-person meeting Monday night, the village board tabled approval of a …

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Maybrook tables action on cannabis dispensaries

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There will be no cannabis dispensaries or on-site consumption establishments in Maybrook — at least not for a while. At an in-person meeting Monday night, the village board tabled approval of a local law to “opt out” of those facilities, but the three members at the meeting all expressed their support of the measure following a public hearing.

Deputy Mayor Robert Pritchard and Trustee Kevin Greany missed the meeting due to vacations. Mayor Dennis Leahy and Trustees James Barnett and Daryl Capozzoli agreed to opt out for now and wait to see what happens in other municipalities who opt in.

“I have no problem with dispensaries,” Mayor Leahy said, “but if we don’t opt out by Dec. 31, we can never opt out. We can opt out now and always change that to opt in at a later time. I want to take a back seat for now and see where this goes.”

Trustee Capozzoli said he agreed with Leahy and Trustee Barnett said, “I’m a no for now. I don’t want to jump in. We need time to look at the effects.”

In order to give Pritchard and Greany the opportunity to express their thoughts on the issue, the other three board members voted to table a vote on the law until the meeting Aug. 30.

Two members of the public spoke at the hearing, one expressing his opposition to the law, noting that legal dispensaries and consumption facilities “under undercut the black market,” provide for proper proof of age for sales and ensure an unadulterated product. The other said cannabis helps cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients with symptom alleviation.

Another local law was also tabled, after a public hearing that saw no members of the public speak. The three board members agreed with the law which will restrict parking along Abbey Avenue. Parking will be limited to one side of the village street but the proposed law was unclear whether it would be limited to the east or west side of the street. The village attorney will clarify the wording and the board is expected to vote on it at its Aug. 30 meeting.

“The street is very narrow,” Public Works Supt. Matthew Thorp said. “If parking is permitted on both sides of the street, you can’t get a fire truck through there.”

- Audeen Moore