BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON - The Canton Village Board will be canvassing the public for input on what direction to take now that recreational marijuana is legal in New York state.

Mayor Michael Dalton brought the marijuana law issue before village trustees at Wednesday’s board meeting, seeking their views on what direction to take.

“It’s coming. Decisions by this board and the community will need to be made. We have to have a sense on how to approach this,” said Dalton. “The community will need to tell us what’s on their minds.”

If the village decides to “opt out” of allowing depensafries in the village, they will not receive tax revenue, the mayor noted. If they decide not to “opt out,” the village is expected to receive 4 of the 9 percent of the sales tax revenue generated from marijuana sales.

“If we opt out, it’s an issue of sales tax revenue. If we do not opt out, it’s an issue of dispensaries within our community. I wanted to start this conversation because it’s time,” Dalton stated.

Trustee Anna Sorensen said if the village opted out, marijuana would still be legal but not sold locally.

“In the scope of things, I’m in favor of opting in, working with the community and working on how to best use the sales tax revenue,” she said.

Trustee Klaus Proemm concurred.

“I agree. It’s going to happen anyway so let’s do what’s best for Canton,” he said.

The board expressed interest in conducting a public survey or hold an open forum to collect the thoughts of village residents.

“It’s not a brand new topic. I think we need to get public input sooner than later,” said Trustee Carol Pynchon.

She noted that revisions to village zoning law, nearing the final draft, “has been mindful of this [marijuana law].” She also pointed out that resources provided by the New York State Conference of Mayors helpful information.

Cannabis dispensaries are not scheduled to open until the end of 2022.

Communities will have until the end of 2021 to choose to opt out, but residents may be able to overturn those decisions through a referendum.

It could create a spotty map throughout the state on where marijuana sales may be legal in one town and illegal in the next town over.