NY Cannabis Legalization & Licensing Law: Public Engagement Forum

Event Date: 
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 - 7:00pm

PRESS RELEASE

August 30, 2021

For Immediate Release                                                                                    

Contact: Office of the Village Administrator
914-231-8502

NY Cannabis Legalization & Licensing Law: Public Engagement Forum

On Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall, the Dobbs Ferry Board of Trustees will be providing a second opportunity for public engagement about New York’s Cannabis Law which: (i) immediately legalized adult use of cannabis; (ii) established the framework for a heavily regulated and taxed statewide Cannabis Industry; and (iii) provided for social and economic justice related to the sale and use of cannabis. The Village’s future ability to participate in any taxation benefit from the regulated Cannabis Industry will depend on the Board’s decision concerning the licensing of retail sales/dispensing and/or on-site consumption operations within the Village boundaries. So, while the Village Board of Trustees is continuing its goal of Cannabis Law education, the focus at the October 6th Forum will be to obtain more comments, questions and input from its residents and organizations to assist the Board with making an informed decision for Dobbs Ferry.

While the Cannabis Law legalized adult cannabis use immediately, licensing of the commercial aspects of the Cannabis Industry leading to legal sales will take another year or more. The commercial aspects will be highly regulated, taxed and subject to a licensing program (similar to the Alcoholic Beverage Industry). The Law includes many State licenses which will cover every aspect of the Cannabis Industry, such as cultivation, processing, distribution, delivery, transporting and operating a microbusiness, nursery or cooperative. The Cannabis Law automatically provides Dobbs Ferry with the authority to benefit from the Cannabis Industry via two local licenses - retail sales/dispensaries and on-site consumption. If Dobbs Ferry is not inclined to permit one or both of these uses anywhere within the Village, then the Board must draft an opt-out local law, notice and conduct a public hearing and vote no later than December 31, 2021.

Consistent with the Village’s commitments to transparency, public engagement, and governmental excellence, this Forum is intended as a collaborative opportunity to gain clarity on these issues that, as a community, we must consider and to provide the Village Board with a basis for framing strategies and reaching consensus for future action involving the licensing of cannabis retail sales and/or on-site consumption. Ahead of the Forum, we encourage interested individuals or organizations to review the educational materials published by the New York State Conference of Mayors, including its summary of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).  Other informational resources are also available from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

The Public Engagement Forum will be conducted from the Board Room at Village Hall 112 Main Street. In-person participation may be modified or restricted in light of the increased spread of COVID-19 due to the highly infectious Delta Variant. Any updated details regarding participation will be uploaded to the Village Website and posted at Village Facilities.

Interested parties have a choice to attend in-person or virtually through the videoconferencing service Zoom which can be accessed by: (i) typing “join.zoom.us” on your web browser and entering the Webinar ID 861 5028 5812, Passcode: 289013; or (ii)  using the direct link:
https://zoom.us/j/205957953?pwd=aU5YNHJVYkxub21WN0RzQUZoVzROUT09; or (iii) dialing telephone number 929 205 6099.  Parties may also provide written comments in advance of the Forum to the Village Clerk, 112 Main Street or by e-mail. Further details on the Forum and instructions for participation may be found online at the Village of Dobbs Ferry website www.dobbsferry.com