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Resident asks North Hempstead to reconsider cannabis retail ban; council members express reluctance
Summary
A resident urged the town board to revisit a 2021 local law banning retail cannabis sales so the town can regulate the market locally; council members said many villages have opted out and at least one member said he would not vote to change the opt‑out.
A North Hempstead resident told the town board Jan. 8 the town should reconsider Local Law No. 29 (2021), which prohibits retail cannabis sales, arguing regulation could bring tested products, jobs and tax revenue closer to residents and reduce black‑market purchases.
Rasheer Shah (who identified himself as a resident of North Hempstead) said the legal cannabis industry is already present in neighboring Queens and that keeping retail sales out of town forces residents to purchase elsewhere or from the unregulated market. He urged the board to "take a look at the facts and revisit" the local law to allow regulated retail and training/education about youth and impaired driving, and to deploy harm‑reduction and education measures.
Councilman Walsh (speaking from the dais) responded that every village in his district had opted out of retail sales, and that he would not offer or vote for a resolution to change the town's local opt‑out because his constituents oppose retail stores in areas such as Jericho Turnpike. The supervisor noted that the state had committed to education around addiction and impaired driving but that roll‑out has been inconsistent.
The resident said he is not connected to any marijuana business and that his advocacy focused on local regulation and public safety. The board did not vote on the matter; members said any council member may introduce a resolution for consideration and that four votes would be needed to enact a change.
