Long Beach Rejects Marijuana Dispensaries

LONG BEACH, NY — The Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to make illegal retail marijuana establishments and commercial consumption sites, Newsday reports.

While Long Beach residents 21 and older may still lawfully use marijuana recreationally, the five-member council voted to opt out of legal licensing and hosting retail cannabis dispensaries and sites where people may consume pot within the municipality’s boundaries.

"Opting out gives the city much more flexibility on what it can do," City Council President John Bendo said during Tuesday’s meeting that was held online due to concerns with rising COVID-19 cases.

The city council held two previous public meetings in which residents and others could voice their opinions on the proposal, according to Newsday.

The state’s marijuana legalization law gives municipalities until Dec. 31 to opt out, after which they have opted out permanently by default. Municipalities in Glen Cover, East Hampton, Hempstead, North Hempstead, Huntington, Islip, Oyster Bay, Shelter Island and Smithtown have opted out of the legislation, while the governments in Riverhead, Babylon, Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southampton have opted in, Newsday reports.

The city council's proposal states that the local opt-out law will take effect immediately after it is filled with the secretary of state.