Weighing the Green: Islip’s Take on Marijuana Dispensaries

Tuesday night at the Islip Town Board meeting was an event as quintessentially New York as a rush hour subway squabble. The debate? Whether Islip should join the green wave of legal marijuana dispensaries. Supporters and naysayers packed the house, each ready to have their say.

The Financial Tug-of-War

Council member John Lorenzo, Republican and vocal proponent, abstained from a vote after a marathon public commentary session that ended just after 8 p.m. He couldn’t stop talking about the piles of dollars towns like Babylon are snatching from the green industry. According to Newsday, Babylon’s been rolling in about $2.6 million from this buzz-worthy business (pun very much intended).

Yet, the board, in a slippery move, voted 4-0 to table the decision. They’re granting Islip’s residents more time to weigh in until July. It’s as though they’re indulging a leisurely stroll through Central Park rather than rushing the decision.

The Cautionary Voices

Indeed, some see the tax bonanza as selling our souls. Debra Cavanagh, of Central Islip School Board, laid it out starkly. “Tax dollars are not worth the lives of our children,” she implored. She contends brains don’t fully sprout until 25. Allowing legal weed, she fears, is paving a dangerous road for the tender minds of our youth.

Nostalgia Meets Pragmatism

Back in 2021, Islip flatly voted against dispensaries. Nevertheless, the Times They Are a-Changin’. Four of the five board members are now amenable to revisiting the idea. With neighboring towns delivering legal cannabis into Islip like a pizza delivery, some wonder if Islip’s stance is more about nostalgia than pragmatism.

Opponents from the Community

Before the board meeting, Islip’s business doyens, specifically the Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce, staunchly opposed the cannabis policy shift. “Financial gain should not come at the cost of public health, safety, and the character of our community,” they said. But, in New York, where Wall Street rules and cash is king, financial arguments hold weighty sway.

Proponents of Legalization

Gahrey Ovalle, waving the flag for the pro-cannabis contingent, argued regulation boosts safety. “Ensure our children don’t have access,” he insisted. He underscored that legal shops are state-mandated to block access to kids, unlike the shadowy illicit operations.

Rationale Behind the Support

Ovalle wasn’t alone in his crusade. Council members Michael McElwee and Jorge Guadrón chimed in with support, pointing fingers at illegal shops that don’t bother with regulation. They argued that regulated dispensaries could be the very safeguard communities need.

The Undecided Majority

Still pondering his move was Councilman James O’Connor. He acknowledged that public health arguments lost their oomph over time. Perhaps that’s Long Island’s retail weed boom reshaping perceptions?

Plus, as one Ben Herbst cleverly noted, Islip’s blowing through stacks of potential revenue. “Islip’s losing out because of delivery competition from neighboring dispensaries,” he said.

And so, the debate lingers. Maybe by July, Islip will light up the debate for a final answer.