Babylon Will Hold Public Hearing On Temporary Cannabis Sale Moratorium

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY — A public hearing is planned to allow the public to weigh in regarding a proposed temporary moratorium on cannabis establishments in the Town of Babylon.

The hearing is set for Wednesday. Should the board vote in favor of the moratorium, it would aim to regulate an expected influx of business applications after new state regulations, officials said.

The public hearing, which will take place at Babylon Town Hall at 3 p.m., will address new rules recently put forth by the State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) concerning local zoning regulations for cannabis establishments.

As of Oct. 4, a "broad universe" of individuals and small businesses across the state are able to apply for cultivator, processor, distributor, microbusiness, and retail dispensary licenses.

In addition to the opening of the general license application, currently-operational adult-use conditional cultivators (AUCCs) and conditional processors (AUCPs) will also be able to apply for full, non-conditional licenses, the OCM said.

Matthew T. McDonough, attorney for the town, told Patch that while these rules "purport to preempt" some of the town's regulations, the "town will defend home rule."

"To ensure that officials can appropriately evaluate the new state regulations and prevent an overwhelming influx of applications, we are considering the necessity of implementing a temporary moratorium on cannabis establishments," said McDonough via email. "This will give us the time needed to carefully assess the implications of the new rules and collaborate with OCM to ensure a smooth transition."

McDonough said the town is actively engaged in discussions with OCM to address concerns and find common ground to best serve the interests of the community.

The Town of Babylon was among the first places on Long Island to opt-in for the cannabis establishments.

Long Island's first adult-use cannabis dispensary, Strain Stars, opened in Farmingdale in July.

McDonough said the town currently has five pending applications for additional establishments, and added that official "take this responsibility seriously."

"Long Island's commitment to home rule is sacrosanct, and the town finds it imperative to take the necessary time to carefully assess the implications of the State Office of Cannabis Management's newly promulgated zoning rules," McDonough said. "Our town's cannabis regulations have been in place for an entire year, resulting in Long Island's first and only retail store, Strain Stars, with five more in the pipeline. The state is now on the verge of discovering the importance of collaboration and understanding the unique needs of local communities."