GREENVILLE – The city council set up a committee on Monday to consider whether the city should refuse to allow marijuana dispensaries.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law on March 31 to legalize cannabis for recreational use by adults.
The bill created a two-tier licensing structure and taxation system for the retail sale of cannabis.
A state excise tax of 9% and a local tax of 4% are levied on the sale of marijuana. The counties receive 25% of the local tax revenue and 75% goes to the city or village according to the legislation.
Communities can opt out of allowing retail cannabis pharmacies that would sell marijuana. The deadline for deregistration is December 31; The state does not allow municipalities to opt out of legalizing cannabis by adults.
The city council formed a six-person committee to deal with the issue.
“I want to set up a committee of two members of the city council, two members of the planning committee, two members of the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals) and possibly the city attorney to look into the feasibility of a marijuana dispensary in the city of Greenville,” Town Das said said supervisor Paul Macko on Monday.
Alderman Richard Bear and John Bensen volunteered to serve on the council representing the town council. The committee will also include planning committee members Don Teator and William Bardel, and appeal committee members Tom Vance and John Ingalls.
The resolution did not appoint city attorney Tal Rappleyea to the committee.
The task of the committee is to decide whether the city should leave. If the city doesn’t take action by December 31st, cannabis dispensaries would automatically be allowed in the city.
“If we don’t want to do it, or if we decide we want to do it, we have to come up with a plan,” said Macko.
Bensen said Wednesday the committee’s first job would be to analyze what the law entails.
“We have to look at what the state says about the requirements,” said Bensen. “We haven’t met yet, so I can’t quite say yet.”
Bensen would not commit to a position on the matter at the time, saying the committee did not even hold its first meeting but was skeptical.
“I’m not really excited about it,” said Bensen. “Everything that has to do with the state always has a catch. But without looking at all the rules and regulations, I can’t really make up my mind yet. “
The first meeting of the committee has not been scheduled. A public hearing will likely take place before a final decision is made on the issue, Bensen said.
The city has not been contacted by potential companies looking to open a cannabis dispensary, Bensen said.
The move to legalize adult marijuana is expected to generate additional taxes of $ 350 million annually and potentially create 30,000 to 60,000 jobs across the state, according to the governor’s office.
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