Senate Bill S10018

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S10018

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to special provisions
applying to applications for an adult-use retail dispensary license in a
city having a population of one million people or more

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to establish rules and regulations
for adult-use retail dispensary license applications to ensure that
community boards have definitive judgement in the approval or denial of
these applications. The bill also requires that the cannabis control
board must consider the recent crime statistics of areas under consider-
ation for a dispensary, ensuring public safety and public trust among
local residents of the community.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the cannabis law to add section 61-a to establish that
              

the cannabis control board must review the five most recent years of
relevant New York Police Department crime statistics from the precinct
where the premises of the proposed dispensary is located. This section
also certifies that any decision made by a Community Board pertaining to
adult-use retail dispensary license applications shall be binding.

Section 2: Relates to the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Community boards play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect the
community, but more importantly they provide a platform for residents to
voice their concerns and influence the development of their neighbor-
hoods. This legislation is rooted in the need to prioritize both commu-
nity impact and public safety when determining the placement of cannabis
storefronts, particularly in densely populated cities. While community
boards play a significant role in elevating local perspectives, it is
essential that final decisions are guided by consistent standards and
objective data.

This legislation seeks to address the public safety concerns based upon
the advancement of cannabis storefronts. Therefore, authorizing the
cannabis control board to review the most recent crime data statistics
from the New York Police Department is pivotal in approving or denying
these cannabis license applications in local neighborhoods.

Authorizing the cannabis control board's binding decision, mitigates the
risk of fragmented decision-making by agencies, which can undermine both
public trust and regulatory effectiveness.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately after it becomes law.