OSWEGO TOWN– About two and a half months after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to legalize cannabis in New York, the Town of Oswego held a town hall to hear from citizens of the town regarding the possibility of opting out of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).
Before the town hall yesterday, June 8, the attorney to the town board, Kevin Caraccioli, read resolution 2021-49, titled “Opting Out of the Adult Use Cannabis Retail Dispensaries and On-Site Consumption Sites.” The resolution itself was a draft and was not passed before or during the town hall.
According to Town Supervisor Richard Kaulfuss, the board decided to create a drafted resolution opting out as a way to start discussion and consider the control of dispensaries and consumption sites the town may have. After Caraccioli read the resolution, Kaulfuss read his statement discussing MRTA. He said that the town must consider what is good for itself in addition to its morals.
“The resolution by the Town of Oswego represents neither opposition nor acceptance of MRTA, but rather seeks to … ensure MRTA fits within the character and guidelines of the town,” Kaulfuss said.
Five members of the community spoke at the town hall yesterday with four denying support for the opt out. These rejecters included a trauma specialist, farmers and those who use cannabis for medicinal purposes.
The first to speak, Fran Dellamano, has lived in Oswego since 1957, as he told the Town Board. He urged the board to consider allowing dispensaries more or less out of principle, as he just wants to improve the town.
“This marijuana deal, I don’t know if you can have a store here or not, but the worst thing you can do is say, ‘you can’t have it,’” Dellamano said. “Allowing the people to have a say on some of these businesses coming in makes a [big] difference on how we can grow this town.”
It is important to note that the town cannot hold a referendum for opting in or out of MRTA, according to Kaulfuss. Dellamano wound down his thoughts in a general manner, explaining that the town should look to add more businesses to it – not less – as this would help raise tax revenue.
The next speaker was a U.S. Army veteran and hemp farmer, Sarah Stenuf. She shared that she experiences post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from her time in the military, along with epilepsy. Stenuf supports opting into cannabis sales for its medicinal properties, explaining that it helped replace as many as 16 prescription drugs she took for various issues like epilepsy, anxiety and sleep.
Aside from the many medicinal benefits that Stenuf experienced, she also considered how marijuana can be used recreationally. While recreational use is something that is rather controversial, Stenuf believes that legalizing it will still lead to a safer community.
“The cannabis industry has been and always will be present in our community,” Stenuf said. “Opting out just [allows] businesses to operate without regulatory scrutiny or contributing to taxes, AKA keeping it on the black market … MRTA did not legalize any nefarious activity that is not already occurring. Underground businesses have already been supplying [New York] with high quality and affordable cannabis for 50 years.”
Other speakers include Sarah’s wife, Jennifer Stenuf, who is a licensed master social worker with a certificate in trauma. According to Jennifer, she has studied marijuana as a drug for trauma and that it is safe and very effective as seen in many studies. One sentiment that most speakers continuously brought up was the idea that citizens of the town will find a way to get marijuana, whether it be legally purchased in a different municipality or on the black market.
Ryan Cornelius, another speaker in support of opting in, said that the town needs the tax money, something it would not receive if the town were to opt out.
By the end of the town hall, Councilor Richard Tesoriero motioned to table resolution 2021-49. This motion was seconded by Councilor Victoria Mullin.
Again, Kaulfuss reiterated that the town cannot legally hold a referendum on the issue but wants to hear from the public moving forward to help reach a decision by the deadline to opt out, which is December 31.
“I wrote the resolution because I want to make sure that people review our comprehensive plan, our zoning and our plan to ensure that this was written in,” Kaulfuss said. “We have now made the public aware that this is an issue. We made the public aware that we need to address this in our laws. I am not saying we have to change anything. I am just saying [we need to make sure] it is addressed.”
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Legalize Nationwide!
It’s time for us, the majority of The People to take back control of our national marijuana policy. By voting OUT of office any and all politicians who very publicly and vocally admit to having an anti-marijuana, prohibitionist agenda! Time to vote’em all OUT of office. Period. Plain and simple.
Politicians who continue to demonize Marijuana, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Marijuana possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through Marijuana home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose marijuana, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Marijuana Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
Hear, hear to Mr. Kelly.
Everybody should be able to see that local Republican officialdom, taking their scripts from Will Barclay, who takes his script from right-wing oligarchs like the Koch network, already had an opt-out resolution drafted … haha. Choosing to ignore the widespread popularity of marijuana legalization and all its associated societal benefits, including economic, widespread popularity that includes a majority of their own Republican voters, we have the Police State Fascist Republican Oswego County establishment trying to ram through an intensely repressive reaction to marijuana’s long overdue legalization in New York State.
So let me appeal to the non-college educated White people who continue to comprise the Republican voting base: stop. Please stop. You’re destroying the environment. You’re destroying democracy. You’re pursuing psychopathic policies against other nations. You’re enriching billionaires at the expense of all of us. You’re clamoring for a repugnant figure like Donald Trump, an open racist for many decades, an agent of oligarchy, a man who could not be more committed to the ultra-rich and less committed to American workers of all political persuasions and skin colors. If nothing else, get rid of the Republicans to make the world safe for marijuana commerce and recreation. You know you love smoking it too. Peace.
Hey “Citizen” you have a lot to say obviously.Why don’t you post your name like Mr. Kelly? You voice an opinion yet be anonymous?
Eric Money,
Is Eric “Money” your real name?
You obviously just demonstrated that you haven’t had a lot to say about the actual topic at hand. Which remains, cannabis legalization. Not the real name of the commentator named Citizen. I don’t see how that is relevant to the discussion at all.
Can you please, do us all, the readers of this forum a favor and provide us your very own, full, in-depth opinion on cannabis and it’s inevitable full legalization? You know, the actual topic of at hand…
Sound fair and reasonable?
Please now, explain to the readers here in great detail your personal opinion on cannabis and it’s inevitable, unstoppable full legalization.
We are all ears and waiting…