Marijuana

The Ostrander Avenue location approved by the State Cannabis Control Board does not meet town code requirements because it is within a 1,000-foot setback from residential uses.

The committee originally tasked with creating Riverhead’s local law regulating the location of recreational marijuana dispensaries and lounges will reconvene Wednesday evening, after members of the business community said the zoning laws were too restrictive. 

A cringeworthy reefer madness tale: Riverhead's move to 'opt-out' of having retail marijuana establishments in the town failed when put to a vote in 2021. But you'd never know it by the code the town adopted. When local business owners tried to discuss it with the board, the result was cringeworthy. Editorial.

The town's list of 36 properties eligible for cannabis uses under the town code includeS Tanger Outlets, Walmart, three large hotels, an apartment complex, a mobile home park and other developed sites.Only six on the list are currently not in use.

According to a town document distributed to officials yesterday, there are only 36 properties in the entire town where recreational marijuana businesses can locate, mostly because of restrictive zoning requirements passed by the Town Board last year.

The board voted 4-1 to adopt the code, with Supervisor Yvette Aguiar casting the lone dissenting vote, arguing that it will be invalidated by the state, as she misrepresented the contents of a document outlining upcoming state regulations.

Residents and prospective marijuana entrepreneurs applauded the Riverhead Town Board’s proposed zoning code for marijuana businesses as retail sales are poised to get underway, with one speaker calling it the most “progressive” of its kind and most friendly to the emerging industry on Long Island.

A public hearing on a proposed code to regulate retail marijuana shops and lounges in Riverhead is slated for Oct. 18, according to Councilman Ken Rothwell, who has led an ad-hoc committee to steer development of the code.

The state is now accepting applications for adult-use dispensary licenses. Twenty will be issued for locations on Long Island. Riverhead is one of four L.I. towns that chose not to opt-out of marijuana sales. A local code to regulate dispensaries and lounges is still in the works.

The town board on June 7 banned smoking and vaping marijuana at and near town parks, beaches playgrounds and other facilities, where tobacco use is already prohibited. It also extended a ban on smoking to all town-approved events.