Marijuana Decision Deadline Looms: These Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego Towns are Opting In

A deadline is looming for New York State municipalities to make a decision on opting in or out on allowing marijuana dispensaries and/or marijuana consumption sites. Many towns seem to be waiting until the very last to make a decision since as we all know, this is a rather controversial topic.

If municipalities opt out, they are giving up significant income. According to New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, his office estimates that a conservative yield in annual tax revenues could be as high as $1.3 billion total at the State and City levels.

If you're wondering, "Did my town make a decision yet?" The answer can be easily found on the Rockefeller Institute of Government's "Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker" site. According to the tracker, only two municipalities in Otsego County have made a decision yet. The City of Oneonta and the Town of Unadilla are both opting in for marijuana dispensaries and use sites. Below are decisions made so far in other municipalities in our tri-county region of Central New York.

Opting in municipalities in Chenango County:
City of Norwich (just for dispensaries)
Village of Bainbridge

Opting out municipalities in Chenango County:
Town and Village of Afton
Town and Village of Greene
Town of Guilford
Town and Village of New Berlin
Village of Oxford
Town and Village of Sherburne
Town of Smithville
Town of Smyrna

Opting in municipalities in Delaware County:
Town of Colchester
Village of Deposit
Village of Walton

Opting Out municipalities in Delaware County:
Town of Andes
Town of Bovina
Town of Franklin
Town of Hamden
Town of Middletown
Town of Sidney
Town and Village of Stamford
Town of Walton

How do you feel about your town opting in or out? If your municipality has not made a decision yet, a decision will be released by the end of the month and will be listed at the Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker. Let us know how you feel about your town opting in or out on our app.