Cannabis

The town's cannabis code goes beyond the permissible restrictions allowed by the State Cannabis Law. A Suffolk judge ruled the code provisions void, and a state board separately reached the same conclusion. Riverhead plans to sue — joined by the Town of Southampton.

Supporters and opponents of cannabis businesses clashed at a public hearing Tuesday night on a proposed year-long pause on new dispensaries in Riverhead Town.

The Riverhead Town Board will consider a year-long moratorium on dispensaries in a bid to halt their development after a State Supreme Court judge ruled key aspects of the town’s cannabis zoning law invalid last week.

A Suffolk County Supreme Court judge last week struck down three key provisions of Riverhead Town’s cannabis zoning code — clearing the way for a dispensary in the long-vacant former bank building at 1201 Ostrander Avenue.

The owner of Planet Nugg, a dispensary based in Farmingdale, is opening a second location at 720 Main Road in Aquebogue.

Riverhead Planning The site plan application for a retail cannabis dispensary on the corner of Route 58 and Ostrander Avenue gained preliminary approval from the Riverhead Planning Board last Thursday.

Riverhead Town has rejected a proposal to site a retail cannabis dispensary in a Route 58 commercial building just west of the traffic circle because the location is less than 1,000 feet from the Riverhead High School property.

A used car dealership on the corner of Route 58 and Ostrander Avenue is slated to become a retail cannabis dispensary, according to a site plan application pending before the Riverhead Planning Board.

Riverhead Town Code requires cannabis dispensaries to be located at least 1,000 feet from any school. Since Riverhead High School is only 735 feet south of the proposed site, the applicant needs permission of the ZBA. It met resistance at a hearing last week.

Riverhead CAP is offering free locking storage bags for safe cannabis storage at home, to protect children and pets from ingesting the substance, which can be toxic and require emergency medical attention.