Retail gross sales of marijuana and public on-site consumption might be allowed in Riverhead City.
After greater than three months of debate following the state legislation legalizing marijuana, the Riverhead City Board voted in opposition to a decision Wednesday to decide out. The decision was rejected by a 3-2 vote.
Councilmen Tim Hubbard, Frank Beyrodt and Councilwoman Catherine Kent voted in opposition to the decision. Councilman Ken Rothwell and Supervisor Yvette Aguiar voted in favor and to decide out.
Every board member outlined their reasoning previous to casting the vote, starting with Mr. Rothwell, who urged his fellow board members to vote sure and decide out. He raised considerations about legislation enforcement’s skill to detect a driver impaired by marijuana, questioned whether or not the city would see income from the retail gross sales and stated Riverhead ought to observe how neighboring cities deal with it first.
Mr. Hubbard known as it one of many “extra controversial choices” he’s needed to make throughout his tenure. He referenced how lots of the considerations raised concerning the medical marijuana dispensary in Riverhead a number of years that by no means panned out.
Ms. Aguiar stated the City Board was flooded with calls Wednesday urging them to decide out.
“Marijuana use doesn’t belong in downtown Riverhead or anyplace close to downtown and I need to make actually clear,” she stated.
Mr. Beyrodt and Ms. Kent each cited the survey outcomes that confirmed a majority of residents have been in favor of the city not opting out.
Whereas the state imposed deadline to decide out just isn’t till Dec. 31, the city confronted a extra accelerated timeline. Had they authorized the decide out, that will have began a 45-day interval to see if anybody challenged their determination through a permissive referendum, which might imply {that a} townwide vote be held at the very least 60 previous to Election Day. To have a permissive referendum, a petition opposing these provisions must be submitted by 10% of the registered voters within the final gubernatorial election.
By successfully opting in, the City Board can regulate the place marijuana can be utilized within the city by way of zoning and might be on the receiving finish of the three% sale tax income.
The state legislation didn’t enable the city to separate the retail sale element and on-site consumption into two separate votes.
A number of audio system urged the City Board to decide out previous to the vote Wednesday and stated the City Board ought to enable the choice to return to a public vote.
“I’m simply asking you to decelerate,” stated Jim Flood of Aquebogue, a retired Nassau County police officer, who received right into a heated trade with Mr. Beyrodt.
*This story might be up to date with further remark from the assembly.
