NORWICH — At last night's common council meeting, council members opened the floor to Chenango County residents to weigh in on the proposed local law regarding cannabis retail sale and on-site consumption establishments, and ultimately decided to amend the law.

Based on public opinion, knowledge of the proposed law and state guidance, and legal advice, council members opted to amend the local law so they would only be voting on the legalization of on-site consumption.

"Currently the motion reads that we will opt out of both on-site consumption and dispensaries within the city. Based on the substantial amount of feedback I've received, I'm going to take the opportunity to make a motion to amend Local Law Number One of 2021, to opt out only of on-site consumption, which will allow dispensaries in the City of Norwich," said Alderman Matthew Caldwell during the meeting.

This means the council will be taking no action in regard to the legalization of marijuana dispensaries within the city. Come the December 31 deadline, the city will automatically be opted in to that portion of the law.

"At this point the way the local law would read, is that it will be only to opt out of the on-site consumption. So we will not be voting on dispensaries, and by default they will automatically be legal," Caldwell explained.

Several residents attended the meeting, and a handful chose to step forward during the public hearing to voice their opinions on the proposed law. Opinions ranged from not allowing retail sale or on-site consumption of marijuana altogether, to allowing both, to only allowing retail sale and not on-site consumption establishments.

Every council member also reported receiving comments and questions from constituents in the weeks leading up to the public hearing.

"I also received various thoughts, opinions, and ideas regarding the marijuana legislation. I think that in the two week period since announcing that we were going to have the public hearing have definitely helped with getting communication and discussion flowing among our community. Because at the end of the day, this is a community decision that should be met with a lot of thought and discussion," said Alderman Robert Jeffrey.

"I heard from at least five people regarding cannabis and some were in Ward 3, some were out of Ward 3, and some were actually outside of the city," shared Alderwoman Nancy Allaire. "It helps to make you decide what the constituents are looking for, as far as the decision."

Caldwell credited community members for their efforts to educate the council on their opinions regarding the proposed law. He said it had an impact, and as a representative of the people, community feedback was an important factor in his decision.

"It affected my perspective, and the feedback I was getting certainly influenced what I believed the public wants; and because I view myself a representative of the people that I should be enacting legislation that's consistent with their desires," said Caldwell. "I'm confident that other council members got similar feedback and have come to their conclusions for the same reasons, or similar reasons."

Moving forward, the council will still have to vote on whether or not to allow on-site consumption establishments. That vote will be held on November 1, during a special common council meeting within the monthly joint committees meeting.

"The legal advice we were given is, because of home rule law and how that works, if we were going to amend the local law, it should be a motion to amend, and then it should sit for at least seven days before the common council votes. Instead of, amend it tonight, and then vote immediately," said Caldwell.

Council members agreed the waiting period was necessary. Jeffrey acknowledged that this would provide the community yet another opportunity to express their thoughts on the matter.

"This topic has garnered a lot of different discussion, and I appreciate the community input on this. I think there needs to be another opportunity for people to give any concerns or suggestions that they have with this. So, I'm in favor of us delaying this," he said.

Alderman Brian Doliver agreed, and said, "In the meantime, I think it will give us an opportunity to talk to the public about some of the restrictions already in place by the state, as far as locations, that sort of thing."

The lack of state guidance in regard to local marijuana laws was a concern for some council members in the past. But, Caldwell explained that the state has now hired personnel to develop guidelines and regulations, which will be forthcoming.

"As time has gone on, the state has worked through more of the process. They've hired some of these guidance commission leaders or oversight folks," said Caldwell. "They've selected some of those people who are then working on more of the details of what the state guidelines will be, and what the regulations will be, and how they'll work. I don't have any specific details right now, but yeah, we're looking forward to seeing those as they come forward."

"A lot of people I've spoken to are not concerned with that," he added. "They believe the state will make it work. It will take time to make it right, but we shouldn't be concerned with that. And I can see that perspective."