NORWICH — Council members convened for their monthly joint committee meeting on August 3, and discussed the recent legalization of recreational marijuana use.

The decision they're facing is whether or not to allow retail sale and on-site consumption establishments for marijuana products. The city has until the end of the year to opt in or out, but the decision is not so black and white.

Alderman Matthew Caldwell explained that, with the way the legislation is written, if municipalities choose to opt out of allowing marijuana retail stores and consumption establishments within the city, they can always choose to opt in at a later time. However, if the city were to opt in from the beginning, there would be no option to repeal that decision in the future.

Due to this rule, Caldwell explained he is not comfortable voting for retail marijuana sales at this time.

"Unless the state were to change this, we may always have to allow it," he explained. "To allow retail sales in the city despite some of the possible tax, sales tax advantages, I think until we get a better feel for what the state's gonna do with their commission and oversight, I think we're probably best served to opt out right now, go through the process."

Other council members, however, disagreed. Alderman David Zieno argued that marijuana sales would be heavily regulated, much like alcohol.

"It's gonna be well regulated. You know, people that want to have a liquor license have to go through a lot to get that. And the fact that they haven't formed a commission doesn't mean that the regulation is not gonna happen," said Zieno.

The big draw for some council members was the tax incentive. The City of Norwich could see a financial return if marijuana retail stores were to open within the city. What's more, they argued if the city doesn't allow these establishments, consumers will simply find them somewhere else.

"If we did have the establishments here, we would get the money instead of people going to Binghamton, Oneonta, or wherever the heck else they might go," said Alderwoman Nancy Allaire.

Zieno agreed, stating retail and on-site consumption sites could even open up as close as Norwich city lines.

"I can guarantee you if it's not being sold within the city limits, it'll be down in the South Plaza, or the North Plaza, and they're gonna reap all the revenues from it," he said.

Caldwell recognized these points, but also emphasized that opting in is a choice that can't be taken back, and there is no way of knowing what the ramifications of that choice could be.

"We don't really know what the negative consequences are, and my biggest concern is at this point the state has given us this timeline to make a binding decision, but yet has offered no information on what oversight looks like," Caldwell reasoned. "Until we know what those details are we could be locked in to this forever, and then find out that, you know, the negative consequences are not what we expected."

The next steps in this decision would be to either revisit the topic at next month's joint committee meeting, or council members could address it at the common council meeting in two weeks, and hear public opinion through an open forum. After the forum would come the final common council vote.

The clock is ticking, and Caldwell said he is anxious to provide information on the topic so constituents and council members can make an educated decision.

"The time is now. So that's why I'm trying to bring this issue to the forefront now," he said. "I just don't want to lose sight of this because there is no turning back if we do nothing. And I just want people to be fully aware of that, that's all."