Village of Hempstead weighs allowing recreational cannabis dispensaries
Village officials say any potential dispensaries would have to follow proposed buffer zones of at least 200 feet from churches and 500 feet from schools and public youth facilities.
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Residents are divided over a proposal to allow recreational cannabis shops in the Village of Hempstead, with supporters pointing to potential revenue and regulation and opponents raising concerns about young people.
Village of Hempstead residents are weighing in on a proposal that could bring recreational cannabis dispensaries to their community, with opinions divided over the potential benefits and risks.
"If it's going to bring revenue into the community and we'll see a change in the community, why not?" one resident said.
Supporters say legal dispensaries would offer cannabis users a regulated alternative to buying cannabis on the street.
"If you're buying it off the street, you don't know what's in it. They do stuff to it. From a dispensary, like Deputy Mayor Daniels said, they track it, they know what's in it. So, I'm actually for it," another resident said.
Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Daniels says opening shops would increase revenue in the village and help fund infrastructure projects.
"A large portion of the revenue that comes from that would go to support the Parks and Rec Department. You might not be aware, we have close to $75 million in parks and rec projects. That's a hefty number for us to go out and raise to tax for," Daniels said.
But not everyone is convinced. Some residents worry about the effects of recreational cannabis on users, particularly young people.
"You can't say it is beneficial when it is recreational because it is meant to change how your brain is operating at that moment," one resident said.
Village officials say any potential dispensaries would have to follow proposed buffer zones of at least 200 feet from churches and 500 feet from schools and public youth facilities.
"What I worry about is the youngsters, like with the vaping and all the other stuff they have," Hempstead resident Michael Irons said.
The village says no decision was made. Officials will review residents' comments and additional data before making a final decision on whether to allow recreational cannabis shops.
