Islip town board to vote on cannabis retail policy
Islip’s leaders are expected to decide Tuesday night whether to allow retail cannabis shops within the community, a policy shift that supporters say would be a financial boon for the town that could generate millions in new tax revenue each year.
Islip’s town board originally voted against dispensaries when New York State legalized recreational cannabis in 2021. But last month, four of the board’s five members voted to revisit that decision, and a majority of those officials have since said they’re on board with green-lighting retail cannabis at the board meeting Tuesday.
Council member John Lorenzo, a Republican who’s spearheading the dispensary push, cited the amount of revenue other nearby towns are raking in from the industry. For instance, Newsday has reported that Babylon generated about $2.6 million from the industry in 2024 alone, according to data from the Suffolk County Comptroller’s Office.
“We’re pretty much getting surrounded by stores opening up outside the Town of Islip,” Lorenzo said in an interview with Newsday after the meeting last month. “We’re losing out on revenue and we shouldn’t be.”
Council members Michael McElwee, another Republican, and Democrat Jorge Guadron have also backed the legalization effort. Both officials have pointed to consumer safety as the main driver of their support, citing the product regulation at legal dispensaries that does not exist in illegal shops.
Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter is the only staunch cannabis opponent on the board. She voted against revisiting the policy last month because dispensary legalization cannot be undone, and she contends it would “jeopardize the health and welfare of our youth.”
And opponents outside of Town Hall have cropped up since the March 11 vote as well.
The Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce’s leadership unanimously voted to oppose the cannabis policy change and penned a letter to the town saying “financial gain should not come at the cost of public health, safety, and the character of our community.”
Islip Councilman James O’Connor, who would not indicate his position on retail cannabis ahead of the final vote, told Newsday last month that such arguments may hold less water now than they did in 2021 because of the proliferation of retail cannabis throughout Long Island.
“There are people there who will advocate that this is a bad idea for moral and public health reasons. Part of that, I understand. I know that’s going to be part of the discussion, but to a certain extent that horse is already out of the barn,” O’Connor said.
The Islip Town Board is expected to vote on the cannabis question during its 5:30 p.m. meeting.
The policy change needs a simple majority of “yes” votes to pass. A majority of the board could also vote to delay the decision.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
Islip’s leaders are expected to decide Tuesday night whether to allow retail cannabis shops within the community, a policy shift that supporters say would be a financial boon for the town that could generate millions in new tax revenue each year.
Islip’s town board originally voted against dispensaries when New York State legalized recreational cannabis in 2021. But last month, four of the board’s five members voted to revisit that decision, and a majority of those officials have since said they’re on board with green-lighting retail cannabis at the board meeting Tuesday.
Council member John Lorenzo, a Republican who’s spearheading the dispensary push, cited the amount of revenue other nearby towns are raking in from the industry. For instance, Newsday has reported that Babylon generated about $2.6 million from the industry in 2024 alone, according to data from the Suffolk County Comptroller’s Office.
“We’re pretty much getting surrounded by stores opening up outside the Town of Islip,” Lorenzo said in an interview with Newsday after the meeting last month. “We’re losing out on revenue and we shouldn’t be.”
Council members Michael McElwee, another Republican, and Democrat Jorge Guadron have also backed the legalization effort. Both officials have pointed to consumer safety as the main driver of their support, citing the product regulation at legal dispensaries that does not exist in illegal shops.
Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter is the only staunch cannabis opponent on the board. She voted against revisiting the policy last month because dispensary legalization cannot be undone, and she contends it would “jeopardize the health and welfare of our youth.”
And opponents outside of Town Hall have cropped up since the March 11 vote as well.
The Bay Shore Chamber of Commerce’s leadership unanimously voted to oppose the cannabis policy change and penned a letter to the town saying “financial gain should not come at the cost of public health, safety, and the character of our community.”
Islip Councilman James O’Connor, who would not indicate his position on retail cannabis ahead of the final vote, told Newsday last month that such arguments may hold less water now than they did in 2021 because of the proliferation of retail cannabis throughout Long Island.
“There are people there who will advocate that this is a bad idea for moral and public health reasons. Part of that, I understand. I know that’s going to be part of the discussion, but to a certain extent that horse is already out of the barn,” O’Connor said.
The Islip Town Board is expected to vote on the cannabis question during its 5:30 p.m. meeting.
The policy change needs a simple majority of “yes” votes to pass. A majority of the board could also vote to delay the decision.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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