Last Tuesday night, the Crawford Town Board chose to opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site cannabis consumption establishments.

During the public hearing on July 15, David Empie of Pine Bush spoke against allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site cannabis consumption establishments. He believes they would increase the number of traffic accidents. Empie urged the town board to opt out of both motions last Tuesday.

“The COVID pandemic gives us a look-see into what goes wrong when we make poor choices,” he said. “Now we have to wear masks, inoculations are worldwide and it’s not a happy time.”

Councilman Mike Menendez was against allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site cannabis consumption establishments, as marijuana regulations will be controlled by a forthcoming board.

“The new adult use cannabis program will be controlled by the forthcoming but yet to be established Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management, which were given premature authority to issue regulations,” he said. “We have no idea of the power that might be given to this board, which could undo any rules the town might enact.”

Menendez added that today’s cannabis is much more potent, which has created more accidents.

“There is extensive evidence that today’s marijuana is five times more potent than that which was consumed in the 80s and 90s, which has led to higher traffic accidents, deaths, higher crime rates and other social and economic problems,” he said. “Every state that has legalized recreational marijuana has reported these facts.”

Menendez was also concerned regarding the effects cannabis dispensaries would have on young people. He noted that the National Institute on Drug Abuse states that people who began using marijuana under the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder.

“While marijuana and alcohol are both dangerous when abused, marijuana is far more toxic to the brain especially in young people,” Menendez said.

Deputy Supervisor Dan Flanick agreed with Menendez about opting out.

“I’m in favor of the stores, I said it from day one. I have no problem with selling it to people,” he said. “What I’m not in favor of is not knowing what those stores can do, what they can sell, what they can’t sell. Until that is out, I’m not in favor of it. So, I agree with opting out until the state gives us some true guidelines and then we can always opt back in.”

Town Supervisor Charles Carnes agreed with the other board members about opting out of cannabis dispensaries and on-site cannabis consumption establishments.

“We have to opt out,” he said. “We can opt in as soon as they set the rules up and we like the rules and we find out what the rules are.”