Allegany Town Board hears public comments on cannabis dispensaries

ALLEGANY — Eight residents attended a public hearing Tuesday called by the Allegany Town Board for input on on marijuana retail dispensaries and consumption sites.

The consensus from the public was not to opt out of the licensing of the cannabis dispensaries because of the potential tax revenue involved.

Supervisor James Hitchcock said the board was looking for public input on the matter of local licensing of cannabis businesses.

The meeting was held at the Allegany Senior Center on Birch Run Road because the Town Hall is undergoing renovations.

The town board has the option of opting out of the process now and opting in later when the details of the licensing program are known. Municipalities must decide by Dec. 31.

“We’re kind of waiting to see how things roll out,” said Councilman Alexander Nazemetz. “We don’t have a lot of detail.”

The town is automatically in if they don’t opt out by Dec. 31 — and the town cannot opt out after that.

“How will the Town of Allegany benefit from you saying yes?" Jeff Branch asked the board.

“We haven’t got a lot of information from the state on revenue,” Hitchcock answered.

Branch’s wife Barbara asked what other towns are doing.

The board was only aware of one town that had opted out, the Town of Ashford.