Like their neighbors in Mineola and the Town of North Hempstead, the Village of New Hyde Park Board of Trustees will be voting on the future of marijuana in the area.
On Feb. 5, the board will host a public hearing to discuss amending sections of local law to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and marijuana retail stores in the event that the state Legislature legalizes the recreational use of marijuana.
Village Mayor Lawrence Montreuil said that the hearing is being held to ensure that if legalized, marijuana is consistent with other adult substances and has an appropriate place in the village.
In separate speeches this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed support for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults, with the latter naming it one of his top priorities for 2019.
Last Thursday, County Executive Laura Curran announced the creation of a task force to prepare for the anticipated state legalization of recreational marijuana, co-chaired by county Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and county Legislator Josh Lafazan (D-Syosset).
The Town of North Hempstead has already passed a trio of local laws to control sales at medical and potential recreational marijuana stores.
The first, barring medical dispensaries from operating as retail stores, passed in November. Town officials said that they were not against medical marijuana, understand the need for it and that this action will not ban it.
Town officials passed a second law Dec. 18, which caps the number of medical marijuana dispensaries allowed in the town to two and limits where they can operate. According to the legislation, dispensaries can only be located in industrial districts or hospital zones and must not be within 1,000 feet of schools, day care centers and places of worship or within 500 feet of a residential district.
The third law, banning the sale of recreational marijuana in the town, passed earlier this month.
As a result of the first two laws and protests by opponents, MedMen, a cannabis company operating a dispensary in Lake Success, dropped plans to relocate to a storefront on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.
The public hearing on the amendments to local law will be held Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m at Village Hall.
