BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Local officials are taking strides to create local laws to govern cannabis dispensaries within the village.

Code Enforcement Officer Aaron Hardy said he is close to having the new code standards finalized and hopes to have something written into law by the fall.

The move comes after months of illicit shops selling cannabis within the village and the “square mile” that is still being contested by the St. Regis Mohawk tribe.

Mayor Greg Paquin has been vocal in recent months about the illicit shops, calling on the state to take action or offer guidance so the village can step in.

“I’m well aware that there are shops that are illegally open right now and make no mistake, they are illegally open,” Paquin said.

With the new laws in the works, Hardy said the village will be able to limit where dispensaries can be placed throughout the village.

Hardy said he has received a great deal of input from many parties involved.

“I think we’re close to having something that’s fair to the community and doesn’t exclude a whole lot but better reins things in a little bit,” Hardy said.

If the potential law goes into effect, dispensaries and growing facilities will only be allowed in the Central Business District, Commercial Transition District and Commercial Auto-Related District.

Restrictions would prevent such operations from operating in a number of areas in residential zones. A number of streets would specifically be off limits, including Andrews Street, East and West Orvis Street, Main Street, Water Street, Glenn Street, Phillips Street and a handful of others.

Outdoor grow sites would also be illegal in the village, with cultivation facilities required to strictly grow indoors.

The move to establish new, specific code that governs such operations comes on the heels of state officials finally taking steps to address illicit shops and growers.

In language that was codified into law through the state budget bill, state lawmakers have given enhanced powers to the Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance.

Civil and tax penalties for illicit sales have been added and expanded in an effort to deter such operations, officials say.

Under the terms of the new laws, state officials can conduct inspections, seize untested products, obtain court orders to close such businesses and evict commercial tenants who are breaking state and local laws.

Fines can rise to $20,000 per day, per operation, state officials say.

It remains to be seen what action state officials will take against the illicit operations in the village, however state officials had vowed to take action once the legislation was signed into law.