Write a commentThe public hearing regarding the proposed Leafy Wonders cannabis dispensary will re-commence at the start of the Common Council meeting at 7pm.
In the background, the council has been working on understanding the regulations put in place by the New York State Office for Cannabis Management (OCM) and contacting various community stakeholders on how to appropriately minimize any negative impacts of the dispensary.
At a legislative meeting in February, Mayor Jim Rice reported that he and Councilor Jeff Cobb, whose ward is where the proposed dispensary will be located, had hosted representatives from Farnham. They discussed how to minimize the impact on clientele at their Fulton treatment center. Farnham representatives recommended longer hours on the weekend when their center is closed and fewer hours during the week to avoid conflicting with their clientele. They also suggested having literature available from their agencies, a regulation which the OCM has already put in place at the state level for dispensaries.
State regulations require that dispensaries be allowed to remain open at least 70 hours per week; the current proposed schedule is 76 hours, distributed as follows: 10am to 9pm Monday through Thursday, 10am to 10pm Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 7pm on Sunday. Representatives from Leafy Wonders said that they plan to reduce their hours and close at least one full day each week after a testing period to identify slow times. Councilors Avery and Cobb both said they did not see the need to alter the hours as already proposed.
In terms of in-store safety, there were discussions on whether or not the security guard in the dispensary should be armed or not. The council agreed that Police Chief Curtis should be consulted for his opinion. The dispensary is also working with the Oswego County Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to make household safety items such as lock bags available to prevent children from accessing CBD gummies or other products.
Discussions were also had about the method of payment, with cash and debit being allowed in-store and only credit cards being accepted for deliveries.
If the permit is approved at the March 5 meeting, the dispensary could be open as soon as the end of the month. After the approval of the permit, the business will need to wait on a certificate of occupancy before opening. Items in the site plan do not need to be completed until June 30th—which includes the fence and improvements to the driveway.
The site plan initially proposed delivery-only at first, with the retail portion of the store opening sometime after the business opens. However, citing delays in the approval of the special use permit, owner Guy Wilbur said they were now planning to open the retail dispensary and add delivery later.
Mayor Jim Rice reported that he had been discussing issues related to cannabis dispensaries with Mayor of Syracuse Ben Walsh; Walsh reported that their biggest issue has simply been parking in Armory Square.
The councilors agreed that the lookback period on the special use permit was going to be the most critical in helping address any problems that arise in that area due to the business. The permit is on track to be reviewed every six months for the first three years of operation, and then the review will be done annually. These reviews may be extended indefinitely or stop after an agreed-upon number of years.
Each review will include reports on traffic, criminal activity and disturbances, code violations, and excessive noise. The relevant reports will be prepared by the Chief of Police or the Deputy Chief, along with staff from Code Enforcement, and then reviewed by the council.
The council also suggested having the permit’s review period restart should the business be sold. While the permit itself is attached to the land—not the owners—the council had planned to check with the City Attorney to check the legality of restarting the clock on lookback periods if it is sold. The council also reserves the right to add items to the permit at any time as they see fit.
To participate in the public hearing, meeting attendees must sign up on the sheet provided prior to the start of the Common Council meeting. The meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, at 7pm in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Fulton Municipal Building.
