Are Marijuana Dispensaries coming to White Plains?  We don’t know and the residents have not been asked.

In March of 2021, Governor Cuomo and the NY State legislature approved legislation to legalize marijuana for anyone 21 years or older, but municipalities can opt-out of allowing cannabis retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption licenses (cannabis lounges) from within their borders before the December 31, 2021 deadline.  If a municipality does NOT opt-out by 12/31, it CAN NOT opt-out in the future, but if a municipality DOES OPT-OUT before 12/31, it CAN always opt back in at a later date by repealing the local law.

Whatever your opinion is on the issue, marijuana dispensaries/cafes have the potential to change the character of the city.  Whether you are in favor of or against marijuana dispensaries/cafes, this is a discussion that the city should be facilitating so that residents can provide input.  Please email our elected officials and ask them to provide the residents with information on the potential impacts on our city and request several robust debates before the above deadline. This will be the topic at the next CNA Meeting on Tuesday 10/12 at 7pm.  Safety Commissioner Chong will be the special guest and we are hoping that some Common Council members will attend.  We will send out more information and a Zoom link as we get closer to 10/12.

To date, Mayor Roach and the Common Council have not taken a public position, nor have they held public meetings to debate the issue.  Eleven Westchester towns have already opted-out, and five more are in the process of holding public town meetings.

Westchester towns that have opted-out:
Eastchester
North Salem
Yorktown
Lewisboro
Larchmont
Bronxville
Ardsley
Rye Brook
Somers
North Castle
Mt. Kisco

Towns considering opting-out:
Harrison
Rye
Mamaroneck
Scarsdale
Dobbs Ferry