Glen Cove To Ban Public Marijuana Usage, First In Nassau County

GLEN COVE, NY — The City of Glen Cove has banned the public use of marijuana, voted on by council members on Tuesday night at the City Council Meeting.

This makes the City of Glen Cove the first in Nassau County to ban smoking cannabis in public spaces.

There were seven votes– six council members and the Mayor, who unanimously passed the ban. The City Council Meeting included residents on both sides of the issue.

Both medical and recreational cannabis are legal in New York State for those aged 21 years and older, but this local law will now limit the places where people can use marijuana within Glen Cove.

Four years ago, on Dec. 14, 2021, the City of Glen Cove Council voted unanimously to officially opt out of cannabis retail dispensaries and on-site consumption sites within its jurisdiction, officials said.

Glen Cove community member Victoria Grazioso wrote a letter shared by Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck at the City Council Meeting. Some of what she shared states:

"I've witnessed several people smoking marijuana in their cars and then proceed to drive right after," she wrote. "This jeopardizes public safety."

Glen Cove resident and member of S.A.F.E., Bruce Kennedy, shared his support of the ban. S.A.F.E. is a local Glen Cove not-for-profit organization that works to provide alcohol and drug prevention services.

"This proposal is not about criminalizing responsible adults," he began. "It's about protecting our children, our family, and the health and quality of life of everyone that lives, works, and visits here in the city."

He said there are many health risks to inhaling marijuana smoke.

"There is a time and a place for adult substances, and our parks, streets, playgrounds, and public spaces are not the place for marijuana use," he said. "We know that marijuana smoke poses real health risks. It contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. The impact is especially harmful to children and adolescents whose lungs and brains are still developing. Exposure can worsen asthma, trigger allergic reactions, and trigger respiratory distress, not only for children, but also for adults and seniors who also struggle with asthma and environmental allergies. Beyond the health risks, we need to talk about the influence this has on our young people."

He continued by saying that it's important to ban the public use of marijuana to create a positive environment for Glen Cove kids.

"We work tirelessly to teach our children to make healthy choices, use good judgment, and stay substance-free," he said. "Allowing open marijuana use in public undermines those lessons. It normalizes a mind-altering drug in the very spaces where our children walk to school, play sports, and gather with friends."

Kennedy also shared that there are Glen Cove residents who are in recovery for some even involuntary exposure to marijuana, and public use of marijuana can jeopardize their sobriety.

"They too deserve the ability to enjoy public spaces without being confronted with intoxicated substances, safe members, and other community members daily from residents who feel overwhelmed by the smell and the presence of marijuana smoke in public places."

Some residents called for furthering this ban to include public cigarette smoking. Another resident mentioned that he is supporting the ban because he does not want it around kids, but suggested designated areas for public marijuana use, just as there are designated areas for cigarette smoking.

On the other hand, Glen Cove resident Norma Pinkney said at the City Council Meeting that she is a daily marijuana smoker and opposes the ban on public marijuana usage.

Pinkney said people drink in public and asked, "When are we going to put our foot down about that?"

She stated that the drinking fine is $25 and believes the fine for smoking marijuana, which can be upwards of $250, in public is steep: "I think it's a money scheme."

Officials stated that any person violating the ban will receive a civil penalty of up to $100 for a first offense or up to five hours of community service. Any person committing a second or subsequent offense within 12 months could be liable to a civil penalty of up to $250 or up to ten hours of community service.

Pinkney added that she believes they are making too big a deal about marijuana.

"I feel like you're targeting a certain group of individuals," she said.

Pinkney continued by saying she believes, "drinking and driving is way worse."

Another resident against this ban who spoke at the meeting is Karen Mendez. She said she doesn't support tobacco, but does support "a little cigarette of weed."

She said people should teach their children to avoid people who smoke marijuana if they do not wish their children to smell it.

"You know what, teach them to walk around," she said. "I mean, if you don't like garbage, don't keep your nose around garbage.

Councilmember Kevin P. Maccarone said public marijuana usage is already "illegal in our parks and beaches by state law."

He explained that NYS already bans public use in state-owned beaches and parks, and this new Glen Cove ban will take it a step further, and it will "make it a violation of our code if you were to smoke marijuana on a sidewalk or in a parking lot or a public private place, which can be like a 7-11 parking lot, where it's private property, but it's also open to the public."

At the conclusion of the topic, Panzenbeck thanked everyone for voicing their opinions. The council announced that it will add the local law.