Public Hearing Held Regarding a Chemung Co. Local Law that will Regulate Unlicensed Marijuana Stores

CHEMUNG COUNTY, NY (WENY) -- The Chemung County Legislature recently passed a local law that would regulate unlicensed marijuana stores in the county. The County Executive held a public meeting on Monday morning, to allow people to give feedback in support or against the local law.

"A lot of the things we heard this morning are specific to areas in particular neighborhoods where folks are having problems with either marijuana sales or sticker shops, and so forth. So, they’re really telling of how it’s personally effecting them and whether or not they thought the law had any teeth to it or make a difference," said Chemung County Executive, Chris Moss.

Since the local law was approved about two weeks ago, it gives the Chemung Co. Executive, Sheriff's Office, and the Public Health Department the power the shut down sticker stores that don't comply with guidelines by the Office of Cannabis Management.

RELATED: Chemung Co. Legislature votes to introduce local law aiming to regulate unlicensed cannabis sales 

At the public hearing, one person mentioned how they own a few sticker stores and have used profits to help the community. They also mention how marijuana isn't the problem, it's methamphetamines.

"We realize that a lot of times they close down, move three to four blocks away, it’s kind of like chasing them around and they see law enforcement is onto them, they move to a new location. I think some of the issues that were brought to the public hearing today also dealt with are we going to move it from business, to residential? So, now the black market will be done all at residential, no more sticker shops. At the end of the day, we’re just doing what the governor’s office allows us to do as she passed in the 2024 budget which is basically assist the Office of Cannabis Management," said Moss.

Moss said if you have a state-issued retail cannabis license, this doesn't impact you.

"To be honest with you, we’re just trying to keep neighborhoods safe. There is a legal mechanism if you want to sell it and become a distributor and everybody’s going to have to follow that law if that’s what they choose to do... What we’re concerned with is are the illegal ones, are they selling marijuana or selling stickers and gifting marijuana in place of the stickers," said Moss.

Moss said he will sign the local law tomorrow on Tuesday, October 29th and it will become official in 60 to 90 days. According to the Office of Cannabis Management, there are applicants in Chemung County with pending licenses.

WENY reached out to a couple of sticker stores in Chemung County and we either didn't hear back or declined comment.