Members in Riverhead City’s Marijuana Advisory Discussion board got here to a consensus on the time restrictions for marijuana retail shops and lounges throughout its assembly Wednesday night time.
Deputy City Legal professional Anne Marie Prudenti beneficial the city’s retail shops and on-site consumption areas function on an identical schedule to liquor and wine shops in Suffolk County. As a result of the county doesn’t outline the operations of these institutions on Saturday, Prudenti beneficial the institutions would be the similar on Saturday as Friday.
Below Prudenti’s suggestions, retail areas would function from 9 a.m. to eight p.m. on Monday via Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday from 12 to 9 p.m.. On-site consumption shops can be allowed to function two hours later than retail shops — from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Monday via Saturday and from 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Suggestions agreed on in the course of the boards will go for a vote earlier than the members of the marijuana committee, after which despatched to the city board for his or her consideration, mentioned Councilman Ken Rothwell, the city board member tasked with organizing the committee and boards. The city needs a draft of proposed marijuana restrictions prepared by the center of 2022 in preparation for the Hashish Management Board’s restrictions and proposal for marijuana companies.
When prompted by a touch upon whether or not the city may permit an on-site consumption institution to stay open after the time allowed by the city’s regulation, Rothwell mentioned he can be in favor of permitting an institution to remain open for individuals to “wind down.”
“It’s virtually an identical idea that in the event you go to a bar and you’ve got two drinks and other people sit there after and so they have some water for some time simply partaking in dialog, merely to make sure that they’re protected to drive,” Rothwell mentioned.
Municipalities are given the facility to control the “time, place and method” of marijuana companies below the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Municipalities had the chance to opt-out of the legislation of their space, however the board rejected the opt-out legislation in a 3-2 vote July 7, with Aguiar and Rothwell in assist of opting out.
The practically two-hour assembly was filled with dialog between residents, neighborhood stakeholders, potential enterprise stakeholders and city workers in regards to the restrictions. The discussion board was a comply with as much as one held in December, which principally surrounded discussions of attainable areas of marijuana companies.
That dialog continued Wednesday, with maps drawn that confirmed sure locations the place the city is restricted to place companies or promoting by legislation — together with close to colleges and homes of worship — and the place the city may contemplate implementing native laws in proximity to different areas — equivalent to household vacationer facilities like Splish Splash and the Lengthy Island Aquarium.
Prudenti mentioned that in the course of the subsequent discussion board assembly, which is but to be scheduled, the committee will wrap up the conversations surrounding the maps and make determinations surrounding these areas that aren’t addressed within the legislation, however which may be within the curiosity of the city to control.
Up to date maps might be despatched out through e mail, Prudenti mentioned. To be added to the discussion board’s mailing listing, contact the city board coordinator at [email protected].
The assembly additionally addressed whether or not the city would need to impose different restrictions, like safety necessities, into the city code whereas awaiting additional steering from New York State’s Hashish Management Board, the governing physique created to make laws and grant permits for hashish use.
The Hashish Management Board has achieved little in setting laws for adult-use because it began assembly in October. David Falkowski, an East Finish marijuana cultivator and the chair of the Lengthy Island Regional Committee for the New York Hashish Growers and Processor Affiliation, mentioned he’s listening to inside the marijuana enterprise neighborhood that the management board will begin introducing laws quickly, together with for safety.
Prudenti mentioned discussions round attainable safety necessities have been on the agenda as a result of she present in her analysis that the laws of municipalities in different states across the nation lay out these necessities of their codes.
Rothwell mentioned he would slightly have the city draw laws now, than await the state to control in case the Hashish Management Board doesn’t act.
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